2nd XI Vs Upminster

Upminster won the toss and opted first due to the hangover effect.  Keeper Quested went for a duck bowled by Giles but Upminster made a great start, going at a run a ball off the first 10 overs.  Giles went for 27 from his 6 overs with one wicket, before picking up a foot injury.

Jon Hilliard starved the batsmen of singles, but was hit for 7 fours as he went for 35 off his first 5 overs,

Inspirational skipper Walker brought himself and Matthew Bell on first change.  Walker had D’Cruz caught by Welham for 32 and Jack O’Dowd entered the fray.

I am unsure if it was good bowling or the state of play, but the run rate slowed dramatically.  O’Dowd was playing a number of different types of shot - all blocks.

To give a feel of the way he played, he took 8 balls to get off the mark (a single) following which he took a further 26 balls to score his second run.  Various rumours circulated.  Was it a bet?  Was it a marketing ploy for Legoland?  The wildest theory had him as an Australian trying to catch the eye of the Australian selectors by proving Aussies can defend.  Aussie Ash Casey was then seen at the ground which gave credence to this rumour, before it emerged he was english.

Meanwhile Wyatt was enjoying himself, including 2 sixes off one Walker over, before being caught by Bell off Horswill for 51 off 49 deliveries.  With the score 109 for 3 in the 24th over could Upminster push on?

No, Upminster collapsed to 151 for 9 before a last stand of 23 got them to 174 all out.  O’Dowd was eighth man out with 19 from 80 deliveries.  To be fair to him, with one more batsman batting like him Upminster could have posted a bigger total.

Horswill was the pick of the bowlers, 6-1-22-3, Boon Senior with his slow (big debate in the bar whether he actually spins it!) bowling finished 9-1-29-2 and Walker with 2-29.  Hilliard and Bell were wicketless, but Bell’s economy was good first change.  Disappointing for the team as a whole was 31 wides, and some poor fielding.  The exception was Welham who was very good in the field with three catches and a run out.

Brentwood’s reply followed its usual fashion.  Sach was out early (9 runs), Emmanuel (Kieran!) hit a quick 51 off 59, before Douggie Maxwell and Matt Bell saw Brentwood home in the 32nd over.  Doug hit a chanceless unbeaten 70 (chanceless if you exclude the routine slip chance when on nought dropped by Ison the Upminster skipper) and Bell was 28 not out.

Next week sees a potential title decider as the side travels to Wanstead who are 3 points behind in second place in the league.

Meanwhile Upminster “celebrated” with a night out at the Sugar Hut.  Mixing with Towie stars a highlight of their cricketing travels.