On a scorcher at pit lane, skipper Pete Foster was hoping to win the toss and bat, this wasn’t to be as his side were asked to field first. The lost toss wasn’t looking too bad as Alex Ashwin started the innings off with a maiden for the second game in a row, this was swiftly followed up by his opening partner Chris Logan taking a wicket in the second over, easily pouched by Caius Headley, despite a swollen left hand. 2 more dots balls at the start of Ashwin’s second over clearly weighing on the batsmen’s mind, as he castled the stumps on two consecutive deliveries to set up a hat trick ball. The hat trick ball unfortunately seeing him concede his first runs. 7 for 3 off 3 overs was looking good for the bears but the following over was where the biggest impact of the game was made. Logan’s third ball of the over was hit skyward, the ball looping into a gap between point and the stumps, Stuart Biggs sprinting in to take the catch not hearing the call of mine from the oncoming steam train that is Logan, the pair both with eyes fixed on the ball collided with the kiwi coming out the worse of the two, a broken nose and a trip to A&E for some stitches for him. Biggs although dazed and injured himself managed to strap himself together for the remaining overs. After a 15-minute interlude and some water to dilute the blooded outfield, play was able to continue. Burghley luckily with some support there were able to call on the younger Headley (Raiffe) to field in Logans place for the remaining overs.

Laud picked up Logan’s half bowled over and the prolonged over only ended up going for 1 run. 8 for 3 off 4 overs the score. Ashwin continued from the other end, the break not doing him any favours as he was hit for 10 off the 5th over. Gareth Hook entered the attack and got some unusual amount of turn, albeit with some help from the slope. Laud replaced Ashwin to bowl his first full over and it was rewarded with a wicket, helped a little by the pitch as the ball kept low. A couple of quiet overs for the bears and Ketton looking like building a partnership was halted when Hook took the 5th wicket, caught again by C Headley. 50 for 5 at the halfway mark and Burghley looking to keep the total as low as possible knowing second innings runs would be hard to come by on a pitch showing variable bounce already. Mo Azhar came into the attack and kept it tight as he usually does. Hook reaping the rewards of the pressure as he added to his wickets tally, caught by Laud at long on. Hook’s spell done, 4 overs 2 for 20. C Headley came into the attack and on his second ball saw him get a wicket, caught behind by Billington. Ketton’s Miller and Wildsmith were able to put some bad balls away to the boundary, but Azhar got Miller, clean bowled for 26 and finished his spell with 1 for 18 off his 4 overs. Ashwin returned for his final over and claimed figures of 2 for 21 off 4, Laud bowled the final over of the innings picking up a wicket caught at deep mid-wicket by R Headley, Laud with 2 for 18 off 3.3 overs. Wildsmith the not out man with 26 and Ketton 109 off their 20.

Burghley knew that this total would be a tricky chase especially on a wicket with a lot of assistance for the bowlers and with the absence of Logan at the top of the order. Laud had Ashwin as his opening partner, and it was Laud who was the aggressor in the opening few overs as he struck 4 to the rope in a knock worth 20 off 11 before he was clean bowled. Billington followed suit the next over as one nipped back down the slope to clip the top of the bails, a piece of phal on the menu for him (0). Skipper Foster joined Ashwin, and the pair knew that time at the crease was going to be vital. Foster had a spot of fortune when his edge went straight to first slip but was put down. The pair then put on 29 together before Ashwin (15) fell to the dreaded full toss which was caught on the deep mid-wicket boundary. Hook added 1 before being adjudged LBW, the score now 55 for 4 and Burghley in danger of having a typical collapse. Foster and Gilmour began the rebuild with some rotation of strike and the odd shot to the boundary, which was proving more difficult with the pitch deteriorating. A quick single too many was the downfall of Gilmour as he was run out by an excellent, 1 stump to aim at, direct hit by Harry Baker, Gilmour trudging off for 21 off 13. C Headley came to the crease with some form after a 73 on Sunday, this was evident with a lovely shot through the covers to start his innings. With Ketton bowling out their 4 main bowlers, the introduction of the 5th bowler in the 17th over proved a fruitful one as the pair dispatched it for 14 runs and taking the bears within 7 of their target. Headley hitting the winning runs with an edge through third man, 17 not out for him off 14 balls with Foster at the other end with 30* as the bears sealed victory.

Thanks to those who came to support, Burghley will now face Bourne in the final, with the date and venue to be confirmed.

This match was sponsored by King West