| Match Report |
A star-studded Brentwood team claimed the win that took them out of the relegation zone for the first time this season.
Brentwood bossed the vast majority of this match and only complacent shots late in the day took some gloss off the performance.
With player availability improving in recent weeks, the traditional mid-season surge is gathering pace and at this rate Brentwood could be looking at a comfortable top-half finish.
The downside of mass availability had been keenly felt by captain Sonny Willis early in the week when he had to make some tough calls over team selection. Only five of the side that caused a sensation by defeating leaders Chelmsford the previous week survived as Willis swung his axe.
Another downside for Willis was that he found himself trying to captain a team that included Ben Cocklin, Richard Walford and Chris Boon Snr - a triumverate with many years on the clock at a higher level and with the opinions to match. It was a sign of things to come when Willis' pre-match chat was interrupted by one of the three demanding to know who was going to be vice-captain.
It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and there was an attractive, lovingly prepared, pristine wicket ready on the Hutton square - unfortunately, the stumps had been pitched on a nearby tatty, used track. Deliberate ploy or total cock-up? There were varying views as the afternoon progressed but if it had been a deliberate attempt by Hutton to spin their way to victory, it backfired as they struggled to post a challenging target after electing to bat.
Opening bowlers Jon Hilliard and Peter Bainbridge overcame the slight to their egos of having Cocklin standing up by cutting through the Hutton top order, aided by a hint of swing and the occasional misbehaviour from the track. Hilliard maintained his excellent recent form by bagging four wickets, the last one thanks to a stunning catch at mid-off by George Wingrove who dived full-length to cling on to a fierce drive. Bainbridge chipped in with three, two courtesy of more sedate catches by Wingrove in the covers.
Hutton were in deep trouble at 58 for seven after 20 overs but rallied thanks to captain Graham Spooner and James Scammell. Brentwood rather lost focus at this point as the field was moved around by at least four people. It was rather like having a team captained by Andrew Strauss with 'assistance' from Mike Brearley, Douglas Jardine and Tony Greig.
The score had moved on to 95 for seven before Boon snr used some flight to bowl Scammell. He then trapped Spooner lbw and took a good return catch off the last man to wrap up the innings in the 40th over.
Brentwood dined in good spirits and the bright mood continued as openers Ben Sach and Willis put on 50 for the first wicket, playing some sumptuous shots that sped across the baked outfield.
It came as a surprise when Sach (28), desperate to score the big runs that might regain his place in the second team, holed out to deep square leg from off-spinner Stuart Rasburn. Willis (25) followed soon after, playing an awful hoick off the same bowler and being caught at point. No3 Cocklin had got off the mark with a straight six and narrowly cleared long-on with another. When he tried to repeat the feat yet again, it was third time unlucky and he was caught 10 yards in from the boundary for 17.
Sam Dawes struck a rapid 34 before - guess what? - holing out to deep midwicket, and youngster Arun Gautham gave a catch to short leg. Rasburn had bagged himself a five-for and Brentwood's remaining batsmen were willing someone to score the winning runs and end the misery. The honour fell to Wingrove with a fittingly scruffy four down to fine leg and the match had ended shortly after 5.30pm.
Although finishing in anti-climactic style, it remained an important win, with Brentwood taking 20 points and Hutton just four. Brentwood are now one point behind Hutton. Next week will be a test of their resurgence when they travel to title-chasing Harlow.
Report by Peter Bainbridge
Scorecard:
http://essexcl.play-cricket.com/website/results/2470850
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