3rd XI Vs Upminster 3rd XI

A see-sawing match eventually went Brentwood's way when Billy Hull smacked a four in the penultimate over to secure a three-wicket win against fellow strugglers Upminster. Watched by a sizeable crowd of thrill seekers bored by the second XI's nonchalant success on the main square, the third XI provided the tension they craved by threatening to throw away victory before the cool heads of seventh-wicket pair Hull and George Wingrove came to the rescue.

Victory was a huge boost and moved Brentwood up to the heady heights of fifth in the table - a remarkable turnaround after failing to win any of the first seven games. Defeat would have been a cruel blow in particular to Dave Balroop, who had produced a devastating spell to put Brentwood well on top early in the afternoon. In tandem with second-team exile Hull, Balroop tore into the Upminster batting order after stand-in skipper Peter Bainbridge had won the toss and elected to chase what he expected to be a score well in excess of 200. 

The run-fest failed to materialise as Balroop produced a masterclass in the art of new-ball bowling with his hooping in-duckers. Upminster were two for two and a brief rally was ended when Balroop had dangerous-looking opener Jordan Tigg well caught in the covers by Cameron Maxwell the ball after astutely strengthening his off-side field. Balroop quickly racked up a five-for as Upminster subsided to 75 for six at drinks and when Maxwell then took two wickets in two balls, the match looked as though it might be over by tea time.

Maxwell's first wicket, an lbw, produced a classic 10-minute tantrum from an Upminster veteran who proceeded to test the solidity of chairs and tables with a series of right-foot slams. The second was a juggling catch at second slip by Nigel Bacon that few expected him to take. Upminster's eighth-wicket pair proved a more awkward proposition for the change bowlers and added  40 runs before Balroop and Hull returned to wrap up the innings in the 43rd over.  The No7, dropped early on, had made his way to 60 when becoming the fourth batsman clean bowled by Balroop, who finished with the impressive figures of 12-5-23-6. Hull took 11.1-4-38-2 and Maxwell, eventually getting the hang of bowling to Upminster's plethora of left-handers, returned 7-1-14-2.

Teas were provided by Sam Dawes, whose pride at seeing his plates cleared was punctured when the same angry player who had tried to demolish the boundary furniture then laid into the quality of provisions in a voice loud enough to carry across the dining hall. A target of 136 in something around 50 overs should surely have been a doddle but the reply did not start well when Joe Philpott, promoted after batting impressively the previous week, steered the third ball to third slip. In-form fourth-team regular Andy Maxwell bedded in with stalwart Bacon to make steady, some might say ponderous, headway, putting on 50 before Bacon, who had already been dropped twice, chased a wide one and was caught behind for 23. Dawes's sad day got worse with a second-ball duck and then Maxwell was adjudged lbw for 27.

In the face of an accurate attack, this was not going to plan - at the start of the final 20 overs, Brentwood had limped to 75 for four: 61 still needed but Balroop at the crease. Yet even the greatest can not do it all and after reaching 17, Balroop feathered one behind.  Ewan Smith had looked solid without ever scoring freely and when he tried to open up, he was bowled for nine.  Arun Gautham, Brentwood Under-16s' matchplay opener, struck some crisp shots before the victim of a comical run out. After completing a single, he and Hull added a second from overthrows. With the Upminster fielding becoming shambolic, the ball ran loose again and the  ever-growing crowd bayed for another run. Gautham responded by sprinting down the track without realising Hull had run through his crease and was 10 yards behind the wickets. Gautham was sent back but unable to make his ground. Oh, dear, 110 for seven and the points being thrown away. Yet No9 Wingrove is the man for a crisis - never short of confidence, as Upminster's Mr Angry had earlier discovered in a terse exchange which Wingrove had won hands down. With Hull making batting look relatively easy, Wingrove kept Upminster confused by either walking down the wicket to try to smash boundaries or stoutly blocking.

The score edged onwards, Wingrove hitting a particularly sweet four through midwicket and then Hull giving Brentwood the 'big' over they craved, smacking a full toss over the ropes and then following up with a four. As nerves soothed, Hull hit the runs that gave Brentwood their fourth win in six matches, finishing on 25 and Wingrove six. Next Saturday, it is a trip to Shenfield, who lie just three points behind.   

Report by Peter Bainbridge.