BPCC 2nd XI kicked off the season with their first SLBL Division One match away against Orton Park 1st XI. With what looked like a strong batting line-up, skipper Briault won the toss and decided to bat on a wicket that looked very good for April. The theory behind that decision was sound—but in practice, things didn’t go to plan.

Openers Briault and Hurn struggled to score against some tight bowling and variable bounce. Hurn, using his hand to stop the ball from hitting his stumps, was dismissed for 9. Davies came and went without troubling the scorers, and Briault made a slow 20 before being bowled by Wilkin. Brief cameos from C. Armstrong and Swaminathan helped the tail push Burghley past 100 runs to secure a batting point, but a strong Orton Park line-up made light work of the chase.

Burghley’s opening bowlers were economical, bowling six overs each—Banthorpe conceding just 12 runs and Swaminathan 23. However, the batsmen settled in and chased down the total, losing only two wickets. Both dismissals came from H. Armstrong: one clean bowled and the other caught by Biggs.

A tough opening match for the newly promoted side in Division One, but hopefully they can turn it around next Saturday at home against Long Sutton.