3rd XI Vs Wanstead & Snaresbrook

This for Brentwood was the normal early season fiasco of trying to get a team out. For once though it didn’t end up too bad. An interesting event occurred early on with captain Sonny Willis giving a trial on the square to see who would open the bowling.

It was deemed that our two new “northerners” Matt Bulmer and Rob Jones would start up. Matt had not bowled for about 2 years but after a couple of overs found his rhythm, as did Rob and they both bowled well. The only negative in the situation was that the Wanstead batsmen were very good and they soon raced onto 50 in about 6 overs.

Luke Ranns had a bowl and looked good taking one wicket the same as Matt. Theo Bainbridge came on and was probably  our most consistent bowler taking another wicket but still Wanstead kept piling on the runs.

Sonny Willis and Mick Payne came on a few more catches were taken and also a few more dropped and Wanstead declared on a very good total of 269-8 off of only 39 overs.

Brentwood kept their heads up whilst fielding with everyone backing each other up which is what our illustrious leader had told us to do in one of his famous team talks.

After a fantastic tea everyone waddled back to the pitch and Sonny Willis and Rob Jones opened the batting. Wanstead probably thought the game would be an easy win for them but Willis and Jones settled down and batted sensibly. As with their batting Wanstead bowling was also of a very high standard and when Jones was out caught for 26 followed quickly by Shane Rozario and Barry Brooks the home team looked in big trouble. Willis was still there and hit some lovely shots until finally being caught for 74.

Mervyn Emmanuel and Ash Patel who’s combined age is about 130 then batted for about 20 overs to try and save the game. Merv (21) got bowled Luke Ranns did the same and Brentwood were in bother. Ash though was enjoying himself, Mick Payne was doing his normal thing in these situation of playing a forward defensive before the ball has been bowled and the score was gradually creeping up to 175. Ash had broken helmet issues so discarded it, and then got a ball straight in the hooter as he walked down the pitch to try and hit a 4 to get to 175.

With blood dripping from his nose Ash was helped off the pitch.

Chris Boon senior limped on due to his dodgy back having to face 2 more balls with 3 needed to get to 175. He missed the first ball by about 2 foot his cries of pain could be heard in the clubhouse. The last ball Chris tapped to mid-off. Payne and Boon then somehow, not very quickly ran 3 runs off it due to a wild overthrow.

MATCH DRAWN

To conclude Wanstead were a much better team than Brentwood, but probably unlike last year we didn’t lose this one and also picked up maybe a few valuable points. Brentwood with a reasonably weak batting team survived for 61 overs with just the loss of 7 wickets. Team spirit was good and if we keep this attitude up we could have a similar season to Leicester or West Ham

Mick Payne