2nd XI Vs Chingford

Heavy overnight rain meant ground conditions were poor at Chingford.  The wicket that had been prepared was flooded, and as we arrived for a rigorous warm up (including the traditional “kick a football at the rear of a team mate” exercise – apparently good for the pucker factor), the groundsman was quickly preparing a new wicket slightly higher up the slope, though on ground that was still damp.

Team news was that Richard Walford was fit to play but with a dodgy knee, he also taped up his aching wrist ready for the fray.  Jon Hilliard was also included, along with senior spinner (ie old) Chris Boon Senior.

The start was delayed by 30 minutes, but remained a 45 over game.  Clearly batting first on a damp track would be challenging.  All eyes were on Walker as the great man made his call.  Great man that he is, he was unable to guess right and Brentwood were asked to bat first.

Kieran Emmanuel was caught behind for a duck, leaving Sach and Douggie Maxwell to consolidate.  Sach was looking ok until he decided to give some catching practice when he was on 12.  Gully was unable to hang on to a simple catch.  Next ball Sach gave a similar chance to slip who was able to take the catch, somewhat to Sach’s surprise.

Brentwood had made a dreadful start on the wet wicket.  22 for 2 in the eighth over.

Maxwell was now joined by Matt Bell.  Could they consolidate as the wicket dried or would Chingford run through the batting?

Bell spooned one in the air to get off the mark, the ball falling in a gap.  Maxwell was dropped at square leg when on 14.

But gradually, this pair started to build a recovery.  Both were playing conservatively, with the odd ball spitting off a length from one end, and bounding off the famous ridge from the other.

Maxwell closed in in his 50 with Bell some way behind.  Suddenly Bell accelerated helped with a no ball full toss which he put away for 6, and two fours off the leg spinner Stephen’s first over.  Maxwell got the honour though, bringing up his 50 off 79 deliveries.  Bell then brought up his 50 off 59 deliveries. 

The rate was increasing well.  The pitch had settled down, but Bell tried to pull one which popped up and gave a simple catch when on 76.  The pair had put on a stand of 172 from 177 deliveries.

With 7 overs remaining a period of all-out attack ensued.  Welham scored 11 off 8 deliveries.

Maxwell brought up his century and pushed on before being run out in the 43rd over selflessly pushing for a second.  A very good innings, scoring 115.  This would be the top score of this game.  Sadly for Doug, he was not the highest scoring Maxwell as his father eclipsed him with 139 not out in the 4th XI fixture.

Richard Walford ignored his bad wrist and scored 19 not out with a 10 ball cameo, Horswill 9 not out from 5 deliveries.

Brentwood had posted a very strong total of 263 for 5, but the pitch had clearly dried and was playing more like a road.

Bowlers like to bowl down the hill at Chingford, making use of the ridge on a good length.  Anthony Giles and Richard Horswill got to bowl down the slope whilst Hilliard and then Bell toiled up the hill.

Giles and Hilliard bowled well, both were frugal, with Giles beating the edge repeatedly but without making a breakthrough in their first spells.

Horswill was the pick of the bowlers.  He picked up the right length quickly and was treated with respect by all the batsmen.  His second over started with a wide, but then he picked up two wickets in consecutive balls, catches by Emmanuel and Welham.  A small word about James Welham.  He showed some outstanding fielding during the game, with some great stops and nearly taking an impossible catch flinging high into the air, reminiscent of a Spurs goalkeeper.

Opener James Hill was now joined by 14 year old Alex Agedah, an young Essex age group batsman.  The pair put on 50 for the third wicket, Hill batting aggressively and bringing up his 50 from 56 balls before falling soon afterwards for 56, Hilliard taking the catch off the bowling of Walker.

The match was poised, we had spin at both ends, and 146 was needed from 106 deliveries.  If Chingford batted aggressively, targeting the short boundary then there was a chance of a win, with their longest batting line up (batting to 9) of the season.

Chingford took the attack to the spinners.  But Boon showed his experience to keep chipping away with wickets with catches by Emmanuel and Welham, and a stumping by Emmanuel.  Boon finished with 5-0-28-3.

Meanwhile Agedah was showing his class, moving to 50 from 55 balls as he targeted Walker, smashing him out of the attack as Chingford took 24 runs from Walker’s fifth (and final) over.

Seamers were reintroduced, Hilliard picked up a stumping with Emmanuel standing up to him, and Agedah was running out of partners, as the Chingford response fizzled out.  Horswill’ s return to the attack saw him get two more wickets a catch by Emmanuel (his fifth dismissal of the day) and a good catch running backwards by Bell at long on.  Horswill finished with outstanding figures of 9-1-23-4.

Chingford finished with 225 for 9, skipper Dial smashing a four off the last ball for an extra batting bonus point.  Agedah finished with 80 not out.  An innings of great maturity from a very promising young batsman.

Elsewhere Chelmsford and Wanstead both won the toss and tied up their matches easily leaving them hot on Brentwood’s coattails at the top of the table.