Winning the toss, skipper Biggs invited Moulton to bowl first on what looked a good surface – but didn’t always play like one. Burghley’s innings was built around a composed half-century from David Platt and several valuable contributions throughout the order as the visitors posted a competitive 195-8 from their 45 overs. The total always felt slightly above par thanks to disciplined accumulation and important partnerships at key moments, and the inconsistency of the Moulton wicket.

Josh Gallimore set the tone early with a fluent 28 from 37 balls, striking six boundaries and putting pressure on the new-ball attack. Alongside Platt, he shared an opening stand of 66 in just over 13 overs to give Burghley exactly the start they wanted. Platt was the anchor throughout the first half of the innings, batting patiently for his 51 from 79 deliveries, finding the boundary eight times before falling LBW to Joseph Broomfield shortly after reaching his half-century.

Moulton Harrox fought back well through Broomfield, whose spell of 4-29 kept the hosts in the contest. Burghley slipped from 82-1 to 119-5 as wickets fell at regular intervals, with Peter Hewat (6), Charles Sharpe (7) and Ahsan Azhar (5) all back in the hutch with single figure scores.

However, skipper Biggs ensured the innings retained momentum. His 36 from 47 balls showed signs of positive intent, including five boundaries, and his partnership with Jim McIntosh shifted the balance decisively back towards Burghley. After Stephen Harker-Brown (9) departed for another single-figure score, McIntosh provided a vital late flourish, striking 29 from just 27 balls at better than a run a ball, peppering the ropes with five boundaries. The pair lifted Burghley from a potentially awkward position into one of real strength with the second highest partnership of the day with 55 runs, before Cameron Fish and Cooper Hewat calmly guided the innings through the closing overs.

Defending 195, Burghley then produced a devastating display with the ball that left Moulton Harrox in complete disarray. Cameron Fish and Charlotte Aylmore shared all ten wickets in a relentless spell of bowling that dismantled the home batting line-up in less than 18 overs.
Fish struck first, removing Jamie Juckes for 8 before also accounting for Moulton 1st teamer Ruari Drumm and Charlie Poulter as Moulton stumbled to 36-3. At the other end, Aylmore delivered a superb spell of accurate bowling, trapping Zak Maddison for a duck and then removing Eranda Munasinghege and Lewis Peak as the pressure intensified.

The middle order collapsed spectacularly. Fish tore through the lower order, dismissing Joseph Broomfield and Rob Callaby in quick succession to finish with outstanding figures of 5-27 from nine overs, including two maidens. Aylmore matched him wicket for wicket, producing an equally impressive 5-22 from 8.5 overs with four maidens in a spell that completely strangled the hosts.

From 36-3, Moulton Harrox crumbled to 53 all out, losing seven wickets for just 17 runs. Only three batters reached double figures as Burghley’s fielding and bowling intensity never relented. Charles Sharpe took a catch behind the stumps, while Pete Hewat also held a sharp catch at slip during a dominant second innings performance.

After the steady work with the bat laid the platform, Burghley Park’s bowlers emphatically stole the show, wrapping up a superb away victory in commanding fashion.
Thanks to Bishopsgate Corporate Finance for sponsoring this match.