Bears off to a flier!

BPCC 1st XI kick started the new season with a friendly against last year's SLBL Championship winners, Long Sutton CC.

LSCC won the toss and chose to bowl and almost got off to the perfect start with Mike Hobbiss edging the first ball to second slip, but the chance slipped through the fingers. Hobbiss & Josh Gallimore looked to get Burghley off to a good start but Hobbiss was soon pinned LBW by Edgeller for 11 to give LSCC their first wicket. Ryan Gilmour them joined Gallimore at the crease but their partnership was also short-lived. After a couple of glorious lofted cover drives, Gallimore tried to repeat the trick a third time, only to be bowled by Plant for 17. Pete Foster joined Gilmour and looked comfortable in moving the score to 70 before Jake Burton found the edge of Gilmour's bat to see him depart for 20. Sam Potter came in at 5 to join Foster and moved the score to 97 before Foster played an uncharacteristic shot off the bowling of Dan Pellett and was duly caught for 32. With BPCC in a little bit of trouble at 97-4, David Platt joined Potter at the crease and looked to take the sting out of the game. They did exactly this before starting to kick on and take the attack to the LSCC bowlers. With the partnership nearing 90, Potter passed 50 but Platt fell for 34 trying to add some late innings imputus. Ahsan Azhar and Chris Logan both came and went trying to find the boundary in the later stages of the innings, but Potter marched on. He finished the innings 111 not out and Burghley 257/7 from their 45 overs.

The LSCC batting innings got off to the perfect start for Burghley with Alex Ashwin finding the edge of Oliver's bat in the first over to see him depart for 0. James Laud making his debut for LSCC was looking in good touch and was joined by J.Gray but their partnership lasted just 6 overs when Gray was caught by Gallimore off Ashwin. Chris Logan then bowled A. John first ball before catching Laud off the bowling of Biggs for 30 to leave LSCC 36-4. Ollie Billington and D. Clay then dug in and took the sting out of the game with a 50-partnership taking them to 112 before Ahsan Azhar got his rewards for an excellent spell of bowling and had Clay caught by Hobbiss for 29. D. Shah and Billington then started to kick on and put on 49 in reasonably quick time before Shah was removed by Gilmour, stumped well by Pete Foster. When Billington was run out by Sam Potter for a well-made 62, it left LSCC at 168-7 and the chance of victory slipping away. Dan Pellett gave Gilmour a return catch and Ashwin removed Plant & Edgeller, both bowled, and LSCC were bowled out for 176. Jake Burton left unbeaten on 1 down the other end.

An excellent all-round performance from BPCC to start the season against a premier league side and hopefully a good sign for the upcoming season. Burghley start their league season home to last season’s 3rd placed team Moulton Harrox next Saturday 20th April.

Thanks again to Melton Mortgage Solutions for sponsoring the match.