As the early summer sun streamed across the Theatre of Dreams, Burbage CC produced a performance which warmed the hearts of their army of supporters as they comprehensively beat visiting Wigston by 64 runs.

A capacity crowd of 17 adults, three children and a portly Jack Russell looked on as Tom Payne's troops bullied their visiting opponents into submission in temperatures akin to the interior of Michelle McManus's microwave.

Obviously, Payne lost the toss and - not so obviously - Burbage were asked to bat first, presumably making the Wigston captain about as popular with his team as a Sam Jennings fart in a broken lift.

For the second week running, Payne and the desperately out of form Lee Martin put on more than 50 runs for the first wicket, before Payne got over confident and missed a straight one having scored 18.

Joe Broadbent then joined the rabbit Martin at the crease and together the pair looked completely untroubled. With Broadbent tucking into leg side deliveries with his usual enthusiasm and Martin punishing anything too full with devastating effect, Burbage cruised past the 150 mark.

With his third century at the Theatre seemingly written in the cloud-free sky, Martin then played on to be out five runs short of a hugely deserved ton.
It seems 95 is becoming an unlucky number for Martin - he was left not out on that score last season, while it was also the age of his most treasured conquest during a short stint working as Night Porter at the retirement home. Amazingly, he was also fined £95 in the ensuing court case.

With Broadbent following quickly for an impressive 41, Burbage looked to get up past the 200-mark. This they did, only before Andrew Eburne was involved in his second and third run-out incident since his return to the side.

After out-pacing young pup Chris Barber and running him out, Eburne blistering turn of speed then did for not-so-young pup Chris Atkins as Burbage stumbled to 216-8 from their 45 overs. Eburne finishing unbeaten on a dozen.

The Wigston reply got off to a poor start, with Owen Williams taking a sharp catch at slip off the bowling of Payne as the visitors lost a wicket after only five balls.

Martin then took and early one and with Payne grabbing another, Wigston were soon in deep trouble at 16-3. Despite a bit of a rally, Wigston were never going to overhaul their hosts' total.

Two wickets in two balls saw Payne on a hat-trick and after trying to quadruple bluff the incoming batsman, all the Burbage captain managed was to bamboozle himself as he sent down a pretty innocuous delivery which was duly defended away. Payne finished with 4-35 from 12 overs.

Williams, bowling like a young Sanath Jayasuria, then claimed three wickets and it was left to the team's very own stunt driver Craig Simpkin to grab the final wicket, with Marc Harrison clinging on to the chance after moments before shelling a dolly.

This week Burbage travel to Braunstone. With Payne and Martin both missing due appointments at 'the clinic', Aaron Barber will lead the Burbage boys into battle.