Dodds is '˜faultless' as Burridge beat Hampshire Academy

The South African bowler ripped the heart out of the opposition’s batting, taking six wickets for just 19 runs.

The home side were bowled out for 151 in just over 40 overs.

And then Dodds helped Burridge cruise to victory with an unbeaten 46 runs.

Vice-captain Dan Hewitt felt it was almost the perfect performance from Dodds.

He said: ‘It is the best I have ever seen him bowl and his whole game was faultless.

‘He didn’t bowl a single bad ball. His experience of playing for the Essex second team for the last couple of years is paying off.

‘He bowls just off the back of a good length and gets a fair bit of wobble off the seam.

‘Though he isn’t brisk he is still a decent enough pace for club cricket.

‘He got his first five-wicket haul this season and now he has added six in a game.

‘His ability to move the ball both ways had the batsmen in all sorts of trouble.’

Hampshire Academy decided to bat first on a good looking pitch but were soon made to regret their decision.

Dan Stancliffe and James Richards dismissed the home openers, leaving them on 74 for two.

It was the arrival of Dodds as first change that stepped things up.

‘He got rid of a couple of their dangerous batsmen with some outstanding bowling,’ said Hewitt.

‘The way he set up Felix Organ was expert.

‘He pegged him back and then got him with a ball bowled back of a length and a bit wider which he nicked to the slips.

‘Then he got Josh McCoy with a real nut.

‘That ball nipped back and took the top of off stump.

‘He kept his foot down all the time, not allowing Hampshire Academy any chance of making a recovery.

‘I am glad to be on his team because I wouldn’t want to face him.’

Burridge lost William Steward early on in their reply.

But Hewitt, who hit 38, made sure they didn’t have any problems by anchoring the innings at the top.

When he was caught, leaving Burridge on 85 for three it was Dodds (46 not out) and experienced campaigner Lee Savident who took charge.

Savident hit six fours and two sixes in his innings of 48 not out off only 35 balls.

‘He hit two massive sixes one of which ended up going all the way down to the golf course,’ said Hewitt.

‘There is a lot of confidence in our camp at the moment, we are a bit more experienced and Doddsy is always capable of putting games to bed.’