BURNHAM CC brought the curtain down on their season with a ‘comfortable’ win at champions Henley.

Shaid Nadeem will next week hand the captaincy over to Harveer Gandam after five years in the Memorial Ground hotseat.

However, he was denied the chance to lead his side out one final time on Saturday by injury.

Despite the fitness blow, the veteran skipper still travelled with the team, and was full of praise after their seven-wicket win at Home Counties Premier Division champions Henley.

“It was a good game to watch and a very comfortable victory,” beamed Nadeem. “I wanted to play the last game but couldn’t.

“We won the toss and decided to field, it was a brave call on the part of Rezwan ‘Rizzy’ Nadeem [captain].

“Adnan Malik clean bowled their skipper, Stewart Davison, first ball which was a nice way to set the tone.

“We got off to a flyer bowling Henley out for 128. Jason Barber (70) batted really well, but we flew through them once we got him out.” Overseas star Aftab Khan led the bowling attack with figures of 3-17, ably supporterd by Malik (2-26).

Raja Rehman (25) got Burnham off to a strong start in reply, before Nehman Nadeem (55*) and Tauseef Kazmi (34*) saw the visitors to victory.

Speaking about his son’s performance, injured skipper Nadeem said: “Nehman wanted the chance to play in the first team and he got on with it.

“He proved his worth and was supported by Raja and Tauseef.” Burnham have been locked in a season-long battle against relegation, but did eventually confirm safety with a win over Banbury earlier this month.

And now Nadeem has called for the next generation of stars to realise their potential.

“We got off to a bad start, but seem to come good when our backs are up against the wall,” said Nadeem, “We always play positive cricket so it is a great comeback.

“We’ve got lots of little gems, they just need to be unleashed.

BURNHAM 2nds finished fourth in Thames Valley Division 2b.

Mohammed Asif’s side ended their year with a two-wicket win at home to Aldershot.