South Wilts’ seven match-winning run – which has long suggested an unrelenting surge towards a fourth successive ECB Southern Electric Premier League title - has been checked.
They were held to a draw by Burridge, who emerged with a greater share of the bonus points from a Time pennant game which ebbed and flowed during its 120-overs.
South Wilts, having been in difficulty at 132-5, posted 276-8, with Burridge, fuelled by former Hampshire all-rounder Lee Savident, responding with 251-7 and earning a ‘winning draw’ in the process.
Having been put into bat, South Wilts prospered, with Eddie Abel’s 12-boundary 57 – his third half-century of the season – propelling the defending champions to 107-1.
But any prospect of South Wilts’ taking lunch with a commanding total were pegged back as Dan Stancliffe (3-56) and Savident removed four batsmen for 25 runs to leave the visitors in need of an innings rebuild at 132-5.
William Wade and James Hibberd duly obliged with a near century sixth-wicket stand, which pointed South Wilts towards their eventual total.
Wade has just finished his GCSE examinations but, at 16 years of age, is looking a fine prospect, one perhaps Hampshire’s academy scouts should monitor more closely.
His 60 was his second fifty-plus score in three Premier Division knocks, while Hibberd made 59 before Savident, bowling off-breaks as he approaches XL Club eligibility, wrapped things up to finish with 3-63.
Burridge, second from bottom of the log before start of play, made an uncertain start losing Derek Kenway and Jamie Richards cheaply.
But Hampshire’s Joe Gatting (34) fired, adding a positive 53 with the patient Will Steward (54).
Savident’s arrival at the crease at 75-3 put South Wilts on the defensive and, for some time, threatened the outcome.
He struck three sixes and nine fours in an run-a-ball 83 – his stand with Steward yielding 90 and taking Burridge to 216-5 and to within a potential tilt at the South Wilts total.
Savident’s eventual dismissal and a double break by Ryan Duffield (4-50) denied Burridge what for a while might have been a day if glory.
In the end, they were indebted to Joe Collings-Wells (22 not out) for getting the 251 runs they needed to earn the ‘winning draw’ their performance thoroughly warranted.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here