Brentwood remain clear of the drop zone by only a slender margin after a losing draw at fellow strugglers Buckhurst Hill on a sweaty, run-laden afternoon.
After losing the toss and being put into the dirt, Brentwood toiled, several bowlers struggling for consistency and several fielders struggling to hold catches. The effect was to gift Buckhurst Hill 50 runs and reach a total that proved just out of Brentwood's reach despite a manful chase.
Although availability had been moderate, captain Sonny Willis at least had no need for many introductions as the team contained three Berrys, two Bainbridges and two Maxwells. His major concern was avoiding having to keep wicket and thus depriving his team of his off-spin option (and himself of three litres of sweat). Dave Berry was kindly volunteered by his two sons, having committed the schoolboy error of disappearing into the bathroom at a crucial stage of the preparations. Although not having kept for two years and having no keeping kit with him bar an old pair of inners, Dave took up the challenge, borrowing pads and gloves from Buckhurst Hill. It was to be a long, hot afternoon for Berry snr.
With Dave Balroop absent as the game commenced - those Greggs sandwiches will not butter themselves, you know - the cherry was picked up by Peter Bainbridge and Cameron Maxwell, who kept the Buckhurst Hill openers under a tightish rein. Home captain Ash Mohammed, a prolific performer at this level as an opening batsman and opening bowler (typical captain), tried to cut loose but managed only to pop Bainbridge up to Arun Gautham at mid off.
That was to be the last wicket for a while as Buckhurst Hill dug in, aided by a couple of drops. Maxwell completed his seven-over spell and was replaced at the top end by sausage roll-king Balroop who had taken six wickets in each of his previous two appearance. The magic was not repeated unfortunately, as the Trinidad and Tobago all-rounder struggled to hit a consistent length.
Willis took a good catch running back at slip (Berry snr was starting to wilt in the 30C heat and left it to him) off Bainbridge to remove the No3 for 46 with the score at 105 in the 24th over.
Balroop took an even better running catch at mid-on off Alex Berry and then Dave Berry held one behind the stumps off Arun Gautham as Brentwood got themselves back into the game at 130 for four.
The fifth-wicket pair then swung the match back in their team's favour with some biggish blows that sailed over the short boundaries. Opener David Roberts was eventually run out for 75 but No6 David Rofe threw his bat to good effect. Dropped at least twice, he had reached 83 when Sam Dawes made up for an earlier miss by clutching a catch on the long-off boundary.
The Brentwood bowling was becoming ragged by this stage and the lower order helped themselves to some easy runs as Buckhurst Hill declared on 270-7 after 52 overs. Bainbridge took three for 56 from 17 overs and Alex Berry bowled a very tidy spell of one for 25 from six overs. Dad Dave did a commendable job but looked a shell of a man as he trudged off the pitch to the sanctuary and shade of the changing room.
Willis delivered a rather stern half-time team talk to his exhausted troops - no mention of 'brand' or 'style', just 'bad fielding' and 'up against it' - before opening the batting with Dawes. Dawes' poor form continued when he edged behind but Willis and James Berry batted with such authority that the unthinkable started to become a possibility.
Berry, after a summer dominated by illness and exams, seemed intent on making up for lost time at the crease by playing a series of powerful cuts and drives, using his long levers to good effect. Willis played with the air of a man determined to guide his team home, despite revealing a face as red as a beetroot every time he removed his helmet to mop his brow.
When drinks arrived after 28 overs, Berry was 46 and Willis 45 and Brentwood were 112 for one - 159 needed off the last 20, a stiff target but definitely possible with wickets in the bank.
Berry passed his 50 first and was immediately dropped when wicketkeeper comically collided with square leg and spilled a simple catch. He went soon after for 58, miscueing and being caught and bowled. Balroop was promoted up the order to add his Caribbean flair and looked good before feathering an attemped pull behind and departing for 16.
Andy Maxwell helped Willis keep up with the rate, a huge six over long-on and another over midwicket particularly memorable, before an exhausted Willis misjudged a quick single and was run out for a commendable 72.
Maxwell followed for a useful 30 and with Brentwood needing 60 off the last five, any chance of victory was slipping out of their grasp. Gautham hit some nice strokes in his unbeaten 21 but after Cameron Maxwell had been run out by a superb direct hit, it was left to Dave Berry to summon up the energy to see out the last two overs and deprive Buckhurst Hill of any more bowling points.
A fine effort with the bat by Brentwood but with two games to go it is very much 'squeaky bum time'.
|