After losing the toss, Burghley were asked to bat on a four-week-old wicket that offered an increasingly difficult surface. Openers Ashwin and Williams looked to make an immediate impact, with Ashwin taking 14 from the opening over. However, Williams fell in the next, chipping to the fielder for 2. R. Headley then joined Ashwin at the crease, but his stay was brief as he was dismissed without troubling the scorers.

Hewat came and went for 7 before Ashwin powered his way to a superb half-century from just 28 balls. He was eventually dismissed for 62 from 33 deliveries, having laid the platform for Burghley to push on strongly in the second half of the innings. At 88/4 with 10 overs remaining, Weller and Jackson began the rebuilding job. Jackson contributed a useful 19 before departing at 113/5, bringing Laud to the middle. With sharp running and punishing anything loose, the pair kept the scoreboard moving.

Weller looked to target the slow off-spinner, advancing down the pitch only to miss the ball and be stumped. The reprieve arrived immediately, though, as the wicketkeeper had taken the ball in front of the stumps, resulting in a no-ball call.

A flurry of wickets followed as Weller (19), Gilmour (4) and Laud (23) all departed in quick succession. Wildsmith and Ruffell then provided a valuable late burst, finding the boundary when it mattered most and ensuring Burghley finished strongly. Wildsmith ended unbeaten on 17 from just seven balls as Burghley closed on 181/9.

Wildsmith and Headley took the new ball for Burghley against a Royal Strikers side keen to make a fast start. Only one of the visiting openers managed to settle, and after three overs the score stood at 17/1, with Wildsmith claiming the first wicket courtesy of a sharp slip catch from Weller.

There was notable carry in the wicket, and both Headley and Wildsmith hit the pitch hard in search of further breakthroughs. Weller was introduced to complete the powerplay, but the remaining opener briefly counterattacked.

Laud replaced Wildsmith down the hill and made an immediate impact, bowling the dangerous opener for 27. In the next over, after conceding a couple of boundaries, Weller responded in style by clean bowling the incoming batter.

Weller struck again in his next over to remove the number five and leave Royal Strikers 81/4 after 10 overs. Laud then switched to seam and claimed two quick wickets, effectively putting the chase beyond the visitors.

Portlock then came on from the other end, swapping spin for seam and helping to squeeze the scoring alongside Laud, who finished with excellent figures of 3-18 from his four overs. Portlock then claimed his first wicket when Hewat held a high, steepling catch in the ring. Headley returned to the attack to close out the game and struck straight away, with Williams taking the catch behind the stumps.

A series of quiet overs followed for the visitors before Portlock made another breakthrough in his final over, ending with figures of 2-18 from four overs. Jackson then took the final over of the match and needed just two balls to claim the last wicket, caught at long-off.

It was a strong all-round performance from Burghley, and the victory sends them into the semi-finals of the competition in two weeks’ time.

This match was sponsored by Trust My Group.