Scorching Burns

Rory Burns of Cardiff MCCU, has leapfrogged Jak Martin’s 202 not out and scorched his way into the lead for this season’s Walter Lawrence Trophy award for the highest-scoring batsman from the six MCC Universities. The 20-year-old left-handed opener and wicket-keeper hit an unbeaten 230 against Oxford MCCU, Martin’s team, in the MCC Universities Championship match at The Parks on April 27: the highest score in an innings played against one of the other five MCCUs or against one of the first-class counties so far this season.

Epsom-born Burns, who was educated at City of London Freemen’s School and has played for Surrey 2nd XI, hit 23 fours and 4 sixes in his innings, which was scored off 345 balls in the drawn game.

Anand Ashok was the 2009 winner of the award for his unbeaten 164 scored for Cambridge University against Oxford University at Fenner’s on June 21 last year. Ashok, who was born in Hyderabad, India, became the fourth recipient of the silver medallion prize and the cheque for £1,000.