 Hilio de Abreu, 357 runs this season. |  Max Curtis, centuries for Devon and St Cross Symondians. |
Quality centuries by Cape Town all-rounder Hilio de Abreu and Max Curtis, new on the ECB Southern Premier League scene, lit up a 611-run extravaganza between 2018 runners-up Burridge and defending champions St Cross Symondians.
Predictably perhaps, the Time pennant match ended in a draw – a ‘winning’ one for Burridge – with plenty of accolades to Octogenarian groundsman Gerry Candy, whose Botley Road ground looks immaculate.
A 600-run encounter didn’t appear likely when Burridge slipped to 19-2, but de Abreu featured in consecutive century partnerships with Azim Choudhury (53) and Richard Lock (69) in the course of notching an 18-boundary 112 and taking his season’s run total past the 350-mark. It was a quality knock.
With Kieran Geyle (53) and Richard Ankers (24) adding quick runs, Burridge marched on to 351 all out – their highest Premier Division score since de Abreu scored his previous century against Alton last season.
With last season’s leading wicket takers, Oli Southon and Nick McMurray absent, the Burridge attack lacks potency this summer and St Cross cashed in with a creditable 260-7 reply.
Fresh from his debut century for Devon in midweek (he made 131 against Wales at Pontarddulais), Max Curtis responded with 103 of his own. Moving through the gears, Max and Tom Foyle looked to be setting up a exciting run chase, but the St Cross captain was undone by a dipping ball from de Abreu before Max lost his own wicket, sinking one down deep square leg's throat.
At that point, with 100 required off the remaining ten overs, St Cross decided to take the ‘losing’ draw, walk away with 13 points, leaving Burridge with 16 points. Harry Foyle and Robbie Hadfield finished unbeaten on 29 and 26 respectively.
Predictably perhaps, the Time pennant match ended in a draw – a ‘winning’ one for Burridge – with plenty of accolades to Octogenarian groundsman Gerry Candy, whose Botley Road ground looks immaculate.
A 600-run encounter didn’t appear likely when Burridge slipped to 19-2, but de Abreu featured in consecutive century partnerships with Azim Choudhury (53) and Richard Lock (69) in the course of notching an 18-boundary 112 and taking his season’s run total past the 350-mark. It was a quality knock.
With Kieran Geyle (53) and Richard Ankers (24) adding quick runs, Burridge marched on to 351 all out – their highest Premier Division score since de Abreu scored his previous century against Alton last season.
With last season’s leading wicket takers, Oli Southon and Nick McMurray absent, the Burridge attack lacks potency this summer and St Cross cashed in with a creditable 260-7 reply.
Fresh from his debut century for Devon in midweek (he made 131 against Wales at Pontarddulais), Max Curtis responded with 103 of his own. Moving through the gears, Max and Tom Foyle looked to be setting up a exciting run chase, but the St Cross captain was undone by a dipping ball from de Abreu before Max lost his own wicket, sinking one down deep square leg's throat.
At that point, with 100 required off the remaining ten overs, St Cross decided to take the ‘losing’ draw, walk away with 13 points, leaving Burridge with 16 points. Harry Foyle and Robbie Hadfield finished unbeaten on 29 and 26 respectively.
