HARVEER Gandam accepts that a draw with Finchampstead was a fair result as his Burnham side were second best on Saturday.

Gandam admits that Burnham failed to execute their bowling gameplan, a lesson they will learn from, but insists his team fought their way to a share of the points at the Memorial Ground.

The Burnham captain told the Observer: “A change in format (from 50 overs to timed) needs a change in strategy and tactics. It’s not win or lose so you have to sit in at times.

“The thing about the draw is it’s the best possible result at times as you can’t afford to give teams easy victories in this league.

“In previous years it might have been a game we let slip and roll over because we still wanted to chase.

“We were second best but to get a draw was very good as it keeps our unbeaten mentality going.”

Having won the toss, the visitors elected to bat and made 293-5 from 64 overs. Greg Smith reached 86 to be the top scorer while Dan Lincoln (79*) and Billy Rogers (68) also made half centuries.

Raminder Singh was the pick of the bowlers with his figures of 2-19. The other wickets fell to Aftab Khan (1-67), a run out and Sulaiman Javed (1-78).

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Burnham seam bowler Mohammed Haroon bowls to Greg Smith in the draw on Saturday.

Burnham reached 204-8 after 56 overs in response. Karan Kumar hit 57, backed up by Adnan Malik (36*), Singh (32) and Fahad Raja (30). JJ Dewes led the bowling attack with his 4-58.

Gandam said: “It was a tough game and upon reflection 293 was just too many runs. We had a plan at halfway to contain them to 250 because we couldn’t get wickets and it wasn’t easy to score.

“It was hard to find the right combination because we were leaking runs at both ends and you can’t defend both sides of the field at all times.

“I was trying to find a combination that would restrict them to three an over but there was always a boundary.

“It wasn’t a great day with the ball as our execution wasn’t great, but as always we will learn from it.”

He continued: “We thought about going for the win early on but lost wickets in a cluster.

“Karan fought for his 50 and not many of us are used to playing that type of innings. He was unfortunate to get out with a little lapse in judgement because he deserved to carry his bat through.

“We really didn’t play well enough to win the game and upon reflection we were second best, but it was a fair result.”

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Aftab Khan appeals for leg before wicket against Billy Rogers at the Memorial Ground.

The draw means Burnham fall from second position to fourth in Home Counties Division One ahead of a trip to third-placed High Wycombe this Saturday.

Gandam commented: “It will be a tough fixture but last year we had a decent result there when we couldn’t quite get the last wicket to win.”

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