2nd XI Vs Woodford Wells

On a somewhat windy day skipper Graeme Walker took a strong second XI side to visit newly promoted Woodford Wells.

In advance of the fixture Graeme had sent a long valedictory email, exhorting all his team mates to rise and attack the foe.  Anything other than a victory would be below his standards (where have we heard that before recently…)

As a flavour:

“Let's make oppositions fight for every run – I think most team will soon crumble under the pressure.”

Graeme probably overestimated the ability of the 4 Brentwood schoolboys to read emails (ore accustomed to twitter or snapchat) who had been released late by a cancelled school fixture and strengthened this team (and also benefitting the 3rd XI – though 41 as their batting total suggests “strengthening” is a relative term for Merw’s team!)

Graeme set a strong tone from the off by losing the toss. However, Wells batted, fitting in with Walker’s masterplan very well.

Graeme wanted to use his seamers in short bursts, only keeping them on if they were doing well.

All contributed well, with wickets for Degg (2-19), Heywood (1-18 on his competitive debut for the club), Bell (1-9), and Digger (1-18).  Graeme bowled well, recovery from seeming cruciate ligament failure (that so nearly felled this giant of the game) to send down a frugal 20 over stint for two wickets. Paul Humphries (also on debut) contributed two late wickets as Wells staggered to 158 for 9 from 52 overs.  

A word of praise for Dickie Whitehall, making the unaccustomed work of wicket keeper look so simple. Had he learned from years of watching Cocklin or was it accuracy of our bowling that lead to just 8 byes?  Either way his thighs were aching.

In response we lost three early wickets to opening seamer Uddin.  Were we chucking the game away? 

A patient recovery was then lead by our two Richards: Walford and Horswill.  Though slow enough to make grass growing or snail racing seem like fast paced events, the Richard’s saw us make a strong recovery.  Horswill fell for a patient 31 (after acceleration towards the end of his 103 ball innings). Walford fell just before the end for a fine 74, by far the best innings of the game.

Humphries and Hull saw us across the line, Digger showing his form with a rapid 12 not out from just 6 balls demonstrating our strength in depth.

A good omen for the summer ahead.  Churchill would have been proud of our Graeme.