Skipper Alex Ashwin won the toss and, in a moment that surprised absolutely nobody... okay, maybe everyone... chose to bat!

The innings got off to the worst possible start when the usually dependable Mike Hobbiss lasted exactly one ball before Alex Clegg rearranged his stumps, leaving Hobbiss with two pieces of succulent duck added to his tally on September 19th.

Thankfully, Ryan Gilmour and James Laud steadied the ship. Both were handed early lives by generous fielding, and they made Bracebridge pay. The pair added 61 before Gilmour (26), looking to punish a short, wide delivery from Ben Whitehouse, could only feather through to wicketkeeper Sam Clegg for a well-made knock.

With Pete Foster absent, Ewan Williams stepped into the number four role and looked right at home. His fluent 31 helped add another 44 alongside Laud before he picked out long-on from the bowling of visiting skipper Alex Willerton.

Sam Potter joined Laud and the pair kept the scoreboard moving. Laud reached his third league fifty of the season before finally falling to Albert Burgess for 57, finding Whitehouse at point.

Pete Hewat was next in, although his day quickly became complicated after he pulled a calf and required a runner. That did little to slow him down. Hewat, Potter (& Gilmour) piled on another 70 runs, taking Burghley comfortably beyond the 200 mark. Potter brought up his first league half-century of the campaign in style before departing for an excellent 61, while Hewat contributed a valuable 33.

A late wobble saw Raiffe Headley (12), Xavier Wildsmith (1) and Hewat depart in quick succession as Burghley slipped from 233-5 to 246-8, threatening to leave runs out in the middle.

Step forward the unlikely rescue act.

Specialist... batsmen... Pete Ruffell and Alex Ashwin, batting at nine and ten, compiled a stand of 35. Ashwin was eventually run out for 21 in the final over, while Ruffell remained unbeaten on 16 alongside Harry Armstrong (3), as Burghley closed on an imposing 287-9.

Bracebridge's reply began at breakneck speed despite the early loss of Sam Mason, who was caught by James Laud at point from the bowling of Raiffe Headley.

The visitors raced to 49 from just six overs before Burghley hit back. Laud bowled Alex Clegg for 30 before Headley struck again, removing A. Kaul without scoring. Mike Hobbiss took an excellent catch while the rest of the team appealed for LBW.

Harry Armstrong, fresh from his remarkable 7-19 the previous weekend, soon joined the party. A faint edge from Krish Barla was safely gathered by wicketkeeper Ewan Williams to leave Bracebridge wobbling.

At the other end, however, Sri Lankan overseas star Avishka Tharindu looked dangerous, keeping the scoreboard ticking alongside skipper Alex Willerton. At 80-4, Burghley knew this partnership was the one that mattered.

They didn't have to wait long.

Sam Potter tempted Tharindu into a false shot, which Pete Ruffell calmly accepted at mid-on, before producing the perfect encore by bowling Sam Clegg with the very next delivery to leave Bracebridge reeling at 93-6.

Although Willerton briefly counter-attacked, taking 15 from one over, Harry Armstrong completed another superb spell, finishing with 1-37 from his 10 overs and showing maturity and skill well beyond his years.

Ryan Gilmour was then introduced and, just as he had the previous week, immediately found his rhythm. Ruffell took a superb running catch over his shoulder to dismiss Whitehouse before AJ Cook picked out Ashwin at cover. Laud added another wicket as Burgess edged behind to Williams, before Gilmour fittingly wrapped things up by bowling Willerton for 43.

Bracebridge Heath were all out for 155, handing Burghley a dominant 132-run victory built on contributions throughout the side.

With back-to-back wins secured, the Bears now make the long trip to Grimsby next weekend looking to complete the hat-trick.

Thanks to Orchard for sponsoring this match.