Somerset Cricket League Division Two

Burnham 81 lost to East Coker 94 by 13 runs

BURNHAM slumped to a 13-run defeat at East Coker on Saturday in a dramatic low-scoring encounter.

An impressive bowling performance had put Burnham in pole position, as Mike Green (2-10), Rob Driver (4-25), James Annison (2-17) and Brian Brogden (2-16) tore through East Coker to dismiss them for just 94.

But runs were also hard to come by for Burnham, who crashed to 81 all out inside 28 overs and a second league defeat of the season.

Burnham could have been chasing a whole lot less than 94, had it not been for an unbeaten 35 from number ten, L Tinsley and 13 from R Hopkins.

The pair gave the innings an element of respectability with what turned out to be a match-winning tenth wicket partnership – after none of the nine other batsmen had managed to reach double figures.

But the Burnham batsmen were unable to follow up the work of the bowlers – and despite a middle-order rally, fell 13 runs short in a dramatic run chase.

Jim Bloodworth (2) was the first Burnham batsmen to fall and he was followed soon after by Driver (1).

Brad House (8) and Ed Booth (11) were unable to stop the rot – but 22 from D Worthington and 12 from Toby Keast eventually got things under control.

But neither player was able to see their side home, as A Tinsley (5-7) continued to cause problems.

A Young (1-12) took the final wicket for Coker, as Brogden fell for just 1 to condemn Burnham to a disappointing defeat.