Published: Tuesday, 23rd June, 2009 1:00pm

Burnham blown away by Mahood

by Patrick Corlett

Comments (0) | Print | Email

Cricket

Shahid Mahmood on his way to a half century at Burnham.

A FINE opening burst of bolwing from John Mahood kept Beaconsfield top after they beat Burnham by 73 runs at the Memorial Ground on Saturday.

The visitors were bowled out for 210 with Shahid Mahmood making 58 and Mujtaba Ahmed claimed 5-37.

Burnham were in trouble from the start with Mahood ripping into them, taking 6-55 with only the skipper, Shaid Nadeem (45) showing any resistance.

Paul Gurnell won the toss and elected to bat and it looked like a good decision as they got off to a decent start before Ahmed struck twice in quick succession.

Chris Thomas (32) and Mahmood repaired the damage but the latter was trapped in front by Muddassar Nawaz for 58.

James Cousins (21), Thomas and Shakel Ahmed all fell with the score on 140 but the Beacs tail wagged as Heavyside (23) and Gurnell (25 not out) got the score up to 210 before Mutjaba Ahmed cleaned up the innings.

Burnham showed a lack of discipline at the top of the order when Javed Khan skied a shot off Hussain that was well taken by Thomas, running back at mid-on. Adnan Javed was soon back in the hutch as well when he was brilliantly yorked by Mahood.

When Christopher Ruane edged Mahood behind, the hosts were on the ropes at 30-3 and in need of a big partnership, that Fazal and Adnan Malik threatened to produce with the pair going on the counter attack, hitting some crisp boundaries.

However, the partnership was broken when Fazal was adjudged leg before getting forward to Mahood for 22. Malik departed for 17 in the next over when he was caught at point and they lost three wickets for two runs when Mahood castled Awais Basharat to leave them on 61-6.

Despite having a mountain to climb, the skipper Nadeem and Zulfi Butt set about the task with gusto, going after Ahmed (3-44). However, any slim hope of an unlikely victory disappeared when Butt was adjudged lbw to Mahood for 18.

An excellent knock from Nadeem came to a disappointing end when he holed out for 45 off Ahmed and the innings was quickly wrapped up asBurnham were bowled out for 137.