2nd XI Vs Wanstead

A warm and sunny day saw Brentwood welcome Wanstead to the Old County Ground.  We extended the welcome by letting the opposition bat first and what was to follow was carnage.

Walker loves to attack the opposition, but with a short boundary on the inviting car park side, attacking fields and a good batting track, Wanstead seized upon our bowling in a way that is reminiscent of Harri Jones and a scotch-egg (or cheggy if you are winding up Harry).

They tucked into the bowling of Degg and Heywood, then they feasted on Jones (Harri being preferred for his spin to Neil who was last seen bowling in Upminster).  Harri’s seven overs went for 55 and he was removed from the attack and replaced by our sage old campaigner Walker. 

Walker made the breakthrough with the opening partnership at 151, picking up both the openers. It was soon 175 for 5 as Walker picked up four wickets in his spell, and Matthew Bell had Velani (cousin of the great Velani) caught behind by stumper Ben Cocklin.

Cocklin picked up two catches, and other than wicket keeping his main role in the team seemed to be to disagree with the wise old man Walker when he felt Walker had pontificated a little too far.

Cocklin likes to be the centre of attention and soon he was howling in pain as he failed to take a catch and for the 97th time in his career broke a finger.  The young Brentwood schoolboys were treated to the full London cabbie swearing dictionary (with frequent repeats of certain c words) as Cocklin tried to “man up” to the pain.  He trudged off the pitch unable to continue (“Are you sure you can’t stay on Ben?” enquired Walker.  “Yes I am @@@@ing sure” said Ben).

Mahesh Velani (brother of the great Velani) then took it to the bowlers with 73 not out from just 39 deliveries, though there were wickets for Horswill (twice) and Bell. The declaration came at 277 for 8.

Walker 10-1-64-4, was the pick of the bowlers, well  backed up by Bell 8-1-31-2 and Horswill 4.5-0-40-2.

The huge crowd were expecting Brentwood to take on the challenge of the run chase.  It was not to be.  James Welham was controversially caught low for 2, and Boon Junior soon followed bowled for 4. Bell smashed a six, but was caught behind for 13.

Ben Sach, who quite frankly had scratched around in previous matches with barely a run to his name (although scratch does rhyme with Sach), came to the fore.  He batted increasingly well running up 42 before being well  caught.  With Horswill and Harri Jones falling cheaply it was left to Neil Jones and Stephen Heywood to bat for the draw.

Neil batted well bringing up 21 off 65 deliveries, Heywood fell just before the end for 11 from 37 deliveries, and the wise man Walker using his decades of experience saw us to the close at 129 for 7.

Not a great result, and with Chelmsford winning we have a must win match next Saturday at Chelmer Park. What a chilling prospect!

Steve Bell