3rd XI Vs Upminster

Upminster IIIs 214-7, Brentwood IIIs 213
Upminster won by three wickets


After the first three games of the season, this defeat represented something of a moral victory for bottom-of-the-table Brentwood.

Not that it looked likely to be that way after they were inserted at Coopers School and collapsed to 34 for six. A spirited lower-order rally took Brentwood to a challenging total which Upminster overhauled with three wickets and two overs to go.

The traditional belated influx of players meant that rather than scratching around for 11 names all week as had been the case for the first three games, captain Sonny Willis had the luxury of naming his team on Monday afternoon. Amazingly, there were no drop-outs, no raids from the second team, and those same 11 individuals gathered in the overheated Coopers School changing room to hear Willis's inspiring team talk.

His words were blown away on the gentle breeze sweeping the ground as Upminster, with three wins from three games, won the toss and opted to bowl in overcast conditions. Willis fenced at a lifter from Berry and edged behind for a duck. Rob Jones (0) followed swiftly to the same bowler/wicketkeeper combination after having a dart at a wide one. Nigel Bacon (1) drove the left-arm spin of Peck straight to mid-off for one, Luke Brailey (0) edged an attempted cut off Berry to first slip, and Sam Dawes (0) was yorked by the same bowler. Somewhere amid that carnage, opener Jack Payne had been bowled by Berry for a promising 21.

So, 34 for six, a 3.30pm finish on the cards, all that hope and expectation blown away. Yet, as the sun emerged from behind the clouds, so Brentwood's fortunes brightened. Paul Degg knows only one way to bat and launched a ferocious counter attack that swiftly changed the momentum of the game as the crowded field was scattered to all parts. Degg was off the mark with a straight six off Berry and smacked six more in the course of a remarkable innings of 64. Of his nine boundaries, only two bounced before the ropes. He eventually departed in unsurprising manner, caught just inside the boundary at long-leg to become Berry's sixth victim.

Despite the 88-run stand with Dave Balroop, Brentwood were still short of their first batting point at 121 for seven and the score became 121 for eight when Harb Pabla shuffled in front of his stumps and was lbw first ball to Peck, the fifth duck of the innings.

Balroop had been playing the support role while Degg was blazing away but now took on the mantle of main man as he was joined by Peter Bainbridge. The pair edged the score past 125, then 150 and on past 175 as Upminster grew frustrated. Balroop played some gorgeous shots, particularly the inside-out lofted cover drive, but, it is fair to say, he is not in tip-top condition and was starting to struggle physically. The sweat pouring off him was partly due to the rising temperature and partly to the head-to-toe body-warmers under his whites.
He collapsed with cramp at least twice and, shortly after guiding Brentwood past 200, charged down the wicket, missed and, despite the wicketkeeper fumbling the ball, did not have the strength to regain his ground and was stumped for 77.

Bainbridge was caught for 32 at long leg off the last ball of the 50th over and Brentwood took tea delighted to have at least made a game of it. Berry finished with six for 66 off his 16 overs.

The reward for Degg and Balroop's exertions with the bat was for them to open the bowling. Balroop dragged himself out to the middle and made the early breakthrough when castling Hammond with an inswinging yorker. Degg had the No3 caught by wicketkeeper Jack Payne to make it 24 for two.

Opener Alfie James played an anchor role as Bean-Wilson, Upminster's Bermudian wicketkeeper, attacked in unconventional fashion. His stance was that of a right-handed Shiv Chanderpaul and he had even copied the West Indian's habit of using the bail during a drawn-out process of taking guard. After he had reached a quick-fire 46 it was fitting that he departed in unconventional fashion, caught at first slip off Bainbridge after the ball had hit his pad and then ricocheted off the back of his bat as he aimed over midwicket with a flourish.
At 92 for three, Upminster were up with the required rate and in the box seat. Two quick wickets, one to Mick Payne courtesy of a smart catch at point by Pabla, and one to Pabla courtesy of an even smarter, one-handed, catch by Degg at point, put the game in the balance at 129 for five as the final hour started.

James was joined by Peck, who was not hanging around. Peck hit some powerful drives, one of which slipped through bowler Pabla's hands, and took a liking to reverse sweeping Payne. He had swung the game back Upminster's way before the returning Degg bowled him for 32.

With James immovable, Brentwood had only one more success as Brailey induced a top edge from White. James carried his bat impressively to finish on 74 not out and Upminster reached their victory target with a six.

A haul of 11 points was almost as many as Brentwood had taken from the first three games put together so there was an air of satisfaction and a sense that the season had at last started - just in time for the visit next Saturday of our friends from Shenfield.

Scorecard: http://essexcl.play-cricket.com/website/results/2694260