Somerset Cricket League Division Two

Burnham 261-4 beat Castle Cary 253-9 by eight runs

AN impressive all-round performance saw Burnham edge out Castle Cary by eight runs in Saturday’s Division Two clash.

Rob Driver (92) and Dave Worthington (84) top scored for Burnham as they amassed 261-4 batting first, before Brian Brogden once again starred with the ball with figures of 5-65, to earn victory by the narrowest of margins.

Batting first, Pete Harris (18) was the first wicket to fall – but this brought together two of Burnham’s match-winners, as Worthington and Driver got into their stride with relative ease.

The pair matched each other blow-for-blow to take Burnham into three figures, passing their fifties in quick succession before continuing on their way.

As the partnership progressed, boundaries became far more frequent, with a series of drives and cuts peppering the fence.

But both players fell short of a deserved century, with Driver departing just eight runs short – but their second-wicket partnership had been a crucial one.

James Birkett (24no) and Toby Keast (22no) struck some lusty blows late on as the score passed the 250-mark and Burnham closed on an imposing total.

The Cary reply got off to a flying start, with openers J Elsworth (47) and C Elsworth (28) taking the attack to the Burnham bowlers.

When the latter was dismissed by Rob Driver (1-24), D Lake (74) picked up where he had left off as Cary found themselves sin a very strong position.

J Elsworth was the next to go, as the introduction of Brogden and Toby Keast (2-57) began to stem the flow of runs.

Lake passed fifty for Cary, but perished not long after – and from here, the Burnham spinners took control.

Brogden in particular, took wickets at regular intervals to leave Cary nine wickets down, but only nine runs short of victory, thanks largely to 39 from M Rushton.

But Keast took the wicket of C Martin (0) in the final over of the innings, to give Burnham a fifth win of the season.