2nd XI Vs Chelmsford

Brentwood, second in the table, took on league leaders Chelmsford (five straight wins) in the first game under the 45 over format.

Availability was poor among bowlers, meaning Walker selected three Brentwood School bowlers and a wicket keeper, despite a 20 over school game in the morning.  Winning the toss with just 7 players at the ground, Walker decided to bowl first.

The start was delayed by 10 minutes, and as Walker took to the field to bowl the first over he walked so slowly he was overtaken by a snail and a tortoise.  Matt Bell took advantage of the long walk to the middle to sprint onto the ground.  Now we had 8!

Walker only went for four in his first over. As the only seamer present, Bell shared the new ball and went for 5.

Walkers second over went for 14, as the huge gaps in the field were exploited. Reinforcements arrived, running onto the ground dressing on the run.  The player count made it to 11.

Heywood now teamed up with Bell and we started to make inroads into the Chelmsford line up.  Heywood took 2 wickets, catches by Bell and Emmanuel.  Horswill failed to quite get to a loopy catch off Bell.

Horswill joined the fray and picked up two wickets with catches by Jones and Welham, (finishing with 7-0-48-2)

However, though Chelmsford were losing wickets they were scoring reasonably quickly, 65 in the first 16 overs.  The arrival of Paul Humphries started to turn things further in Brentwood favour.  He bowled with good control, picking up three wickets for 14 from 7 overs.

From 93 for 7 Chelmsford recovered well.  Keeper Brad Green batted very well with Drain in support.  Heywood was bowled out (9-0-42-2).  The great man, wise skipper and legend of the game that is Graeme Walker  brought himself on and took Green caught and bowled for 32 in the 34th over (finishing with 6-0-30-1).

Persuaded to go for the jugular by his team mates, Walker reintroduced Bell who clean bowled Drain (30) and the number 11 Batsman with the first and third balls of the 35th over.  Bell finished with figures of 6.3-1-16-2.

The pitch had showed some inconsistent bounce, but Chelmsford were ruing some over aggressive shots meaning there were chances given, snapped up by Brentwood fielders.  Over tea I made the comment that we had a strong batting line up, batting through to 11.  With just 154 for the win I did not believe that we would need to prove it!

Sach had a badly bruised and swollen finger in stopping a ball in the field so would be unlikely to bat.  Douggie Maxwell and Kieran Emmanuel  opened.  Douggie hit one lovely four.  Sadly for him that was it, caught for 4 after a 15 ball stay.  

Chris Boon Junior joined Emmanuel at the crease.  Emmanuel went for 13, followed by Bell, also for 13.  Horswill showed good patience in his innings, but his 27 ball stay only brought him 2 runs, and when he went after 22 overs Brentwood were 76 for 4 and scoreboard pressure and lost wickets were starting to fray the nerves.

Boonie was still there and going well.  Welham who likes to bat aggressively joined him at the crease.   Welham contributed 14 at a run a ball and things were looking a lot better.  Catastrophe struck!  Boon flicked one off his legs and Welham sprinted down the track saying YEEEEESSSSS.  Boonie thought  Welham was a little too aggressive and froze in his tracks, looking agog at Welham coming towards him.  Recognising the error of his ways, Welham turned and tried to get home.  The ball beat him and Brentwood were now 98 for 5.

Top scorer from the week before, Neil Jones strode calmly out to the middle.  After scoring a solitary 4 he strode calmly back from the middle. 

Boon had been the mainstay of the innings, but he fell caught behind for 47.  Sach manned up and scored 4 before being caught.  117 for 8.  11 overs to score 37 runs.  The game was in the balance!

Humphries and Walker put on 17 before Walker was caught for 8. 

20 needed off 34 balls, or 1 wicket, Heywood and Humphries at the crease.  Oh dear, though I had been confident at tea that we bat to 11.  With all the pressure on our batsman, the smart money was on a Chelmsford win.

Brentwood kept believing and Humphries took control.  He edged us closer and closer, with Heywood nudging singles.  A tough chance was put down, skied over a fielder who with the ball dropping over his shoulder failed to take it on the run.

In the penultimate over a simple chance was spooned to mid-off.  Routine, the fielder not having to move, the game hung in the balance.  The ball gently looped towards the fielder.  Time stood still, the loop of the ball was reminiscent of Walkers slow stroll to the crease at the start of the game..........Dropped!

Next over Brentwood wrapped it up.  Humphries 21 not out,  Heywood 7 not out seeing us home.

This tense finish saw Brentwood close to 2 points behind Chelmsford at the top of the table.