3rd XI Vs South Woodford

Brentwood postponed their traditional mid-season surge for another week after losing a second successive game and dropping into the relegation places.

South Woodford, promoted last season, completed the double over Brentwood and although this was not as one-sided as the first meeting of the teams on the opening day of the season, considering the strength of the Brentwood XI, it was just as disappointing.

As ever, the back pitch was set out well in time as Sonny Willis’ happy band went through their chores with a spring in their step in anticipation of achieving victory with a side that looked, on paper at least, as strong as any this season.

The balloon of excitement was slightly pricked when, at 1pm, South Woodford still had only four players at the ground. “Brentwood high street is very busy,” said one, as if it should be a surprise on a Saturday lunchtime. “No, the others were late setting off,” admitted another.

The rest arrived at 1.15pm and ambled to the dressing room, only to find it locked and the key with one of the early quartet over on the back pitch. Doh! Another amble, another 15-minute wait, and eventually we were off.

Willis opened with Dave Smith, as stylish an opening partnership as you will find in third-team cricket, and the pair played some lovely looking shots. Unfortunately, they have an unerring ability to hit the ball straight to fielders, so the scoring rate never took off. Even when Willis edged one, he managed to find a fielder – out for four, caught in the slips.

Smith followed soon after for 10 and Brentwood were quickly in trouble - Chris Boon Snr, back from injury, missed a straight one and Bryan Atkins, back from injury, missed a straight one. Two ducks. Brentwood 42 for four from 16 overs.

Dave Balroop has come to Brentwood’s rescue a few times already this season and in partnership with Nigel Bacon set about repeating the feat.

Bacon, new lusty bat in hand, set off how he had finished the previous week against Hutton when hitting an unbeaten 60. His first ball was dispatched to the point boundary with a violent cut followed by trademark flourish, showing off to all the power and true beauty of his new weapon.

Bacon continued his one-man promotional campaign for the merits of Warsop bats with a series of meaty blows, mixed in with watchful defence. To the spectator, there seems little difference in the balls that Bacon defends and those he smashes to the boundary, simply a premeditated decision to attack or block. However, it is proving an effective approach and, in tandem with Balroop, he piled misery on South Woodford’s bowlers.

Balroop is more classic, his leaning-back late cuts and lofted cover drives a sheer pleasure to the eye. Together, they motored along, scoring easily at 10 an over and had put on 120 when Bacon was judged lbw to a slow ball which sent the toe guard of his bat flying into the air (shoddy workmanship as well as umpiring?) and he reluctantly departed for 70.

Balroop followed soon after for 66 but George Bull kept the score ticking over in the final overs with a fine 28 not out, which included a stonking straight six.

So, from 42 for four, Brentwood had finished at 225 for eight after their 45 overs – certainly a defendable score by a team including eight bowlers.

Balroop gave Brentwood the perfect start by inducing a mistimed pull which was taken at square leg by Bull. Cameron Maxwell had the other opener caught by Willis in the slips to make it 25 for two.

South Woodford’s No3 Umer  was looking useful, smashing anything loose,  but the No4 Nabil Shah made a sticky start and was twice dropped, one chance simple, the other difficult.

The contrasting pair defied the Brentwood attack and had taken the score to 110 in the 23rd over when Umer lofted Mick Payne to cow corner, where George Wingrove took the catch, Umer departing for an excellent 64.

When drinks were taken at the end of the over, Brentwood felt the wicket had tilted the game in their favour – 125 needed at just over five an over.

Nabil Shah was caught by Peter Bainbridge off a Wingrove full toss for 31, a score that was matched by his brother Qasim Shah before he was bowled having a huge yahoo at Boon as the required run rate grew.

Balroop returned to take two wickets and Brentwood were feeling good with South Woodford needing 34 off the last four overs with seven wickets down and the light fading rapidly thanks to the late start.

Bull, back for a second spell, had bowled one very tight over, but his second went for 15 as Bikram Singh wound up his bat and three times carted the ball to the midwicket boundary.

Even Balroop’s best efforts from the other end could not save Brentwood and South Woodford, needing a run a ball from the last three overs, scampered their way to victory off the penultimate delivery.

It was a dispirited Brentwood team who trooped off and they will need to lift their spirits rapidly to get out of the pickle they are in.

Peter Bainbridge

Scorecard http://essexcl.play-cricket.com/website/results/2694202