From chasers to champions! Last-day drama as Ickenham snatch title from Burnham's grasp

Burnham’s captain Adnan Shabbir

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Despite losing twice to Burnham this season, Ickenham nipped above their league rivals on the final day of the TVL Division 1 season to take the title and with it, promotion to the Home Counties Cricket League.

Burnham’s destiny was in their own hands heading into the final day as they held a slim lead over challengers Ickenham following an impressive victory over Boyne Hill in their penultimate game.

However, Adnan Shabbir’s side failed to hold their nerve when it mattered most, losing by five wickets away to an Amersham side who found their best form in the final weeks of the season.

Having failed to do their job, it presented the chance for Ickenham to squeeze above them in the standings, and they weren’t about to look that gift horse in the mouth as they got the better of Eversley by 81-runs on Saturday.

Burnham and their skipper Shabbir will feel this disappointment keenly as they’ve led the way for most of the season, having only been promoted from Division 2 last season.

Ickenham, in contrast have always been one of the chasing sides and only sneaked into top spot on the final day of the season, however, some might say that’s the perfect way to do it. In the end they finished five points clear of Burnham on 324 points, and - barring any ground grading issues - will be promoted to play in Home Counties League Division 2 next summer.

Having played so well in their 107-run victory over Boyne Hill, Burnham will rue their inability to repeat that kind of performance on Saturday. Having elected to bat on winning the toss, they were bowled out for a subpar 116 runs in 37.4 overs, and Shabbir must have known at the changeover that his side were very much up against it.

For context, Burnham’s batting has been inconsistent for most of the campaign and was always the main concern for Shabbir. However, for the most part they managed to finish on the right end of results or make up for under par scores in the field. On Saturday they couldn’t do that. Once wickets started to fall there was no let-up, with Madhuka Liyanapathiranage taking 3-24 and no one in Burnham colours - other than Mishen Silva who scored 48 - getting set in the middle.

In reply, Amersham - who’d won their past few matches with relative ease - chased down their total with little difficulty. Chico Hillman (32) and Jimi Chialoufas (57) shared an opening stand of 73 to get Amersham most of the way there. Wickets did eventually fall to Osman Ilyas (4-29) however, the visitors were attempting to defend and undefendable total and skipper Andrew Viney (8no) and Mohmad Choudhry (3no) got the hosts to 120-5 in 24.2 overs.

It’s a frustrating end to the season for Burnham who acquitted themselves well for most of the summer but fell at the final hurdle.

Elsewhere in Division 1, Boyne Hill finished their campaign with an encouraging 110-run victory over Henley at home.

The result saw Ziya Mohamed’s side finish fifth in the table, however, Hill will once again feel they had the capability to have challenged the likes of Burnham and eventual winners Ickenham for the title. They finished the campaign 36 points behind Ickenham, but four sides managed more points than them this summer.

Electing to bat on winning the toss, they made 247 before being dismissed in 49.5 overs. The runs were shared around but Tharushan Iddamalgoda scored 50 and Oliver West added 45, as did Michael Sneddon (45).

That gave them a solid score to defend and with Iddamalgoda (4-31) and Owen Roberts (3-23) in great form with the ball, Henley didn’t come close. Sahil Desai top scored for the visitors with 33 as they were bowled out for 137 in 35.4 overs.

Bottom of the table Marlow’s fate had been settled several weeks ago and Phil Lines’ side rounded off a disappointing campaign with a 75-run defeat at home to Tring Park.

Having elected to field on winning the toss, the hosts saw Park compile a huge score of 341-8 from their 50 overs, with Ryan Friend falling just short of his century on 93.

In reply, Marlow put up a decent fight, with Chris Goede leading it with a score of 122 and Hamza Arif adding 68, but the hosts were bowled out for 266 in 45 overs. They’ll try to bounce back at the first attempt like Cookham Dean when they play in Division 2 next summer.