3rd XI Vs Upminster

After the demolition of doomed Loughton the previous week, this was a back-down-to-earth result for Brentwood against a strong Upminster team.

Brentwood thought they had done well to restrict the visitors to 204 for four from 45 overs but after a promising start to the reply, hopes gradually fizzled out and they came up 40 runs short.

It was a characterful, experienced Brentwood team who had gathered in the dressing room before the start and they were amazed by the characterful, experienced footwear donned by the returning Danny Cocklin.

Having thrown out his cricket kit after ‘retiring’ last season, Danny was lacing up a pair of white football boots that looked like something Alan Ball had worn in the 1970s. After a team decision that the wicket would not be taking a stud – either long, short or moulded - Chris Boon came to the rescue with a spare pair of cricket boots, which, although two sizes too big for Danny, were deemed preferable.

Upminster won the toss and elected to bat, which caused Brentwood slight difficulties as opening bowler Dave Balroop was running late. The inswing legend’s arrival was further delayed by the need to brief ‘nanny’ Theo Bainbridge on the sidelines about how best to entertain his two sons while Daddy played cricket. Although having fruit, drinks, crisps and an Ipad on standby, piggy-back rides seemed most popular as Theo ultimately put in as much effort as those on the other side of the ropes.

Balroop made an immediate contribution on the pitch when pouching a miscued drive off Paul Degg at point in the seventh over. After an early burst of George Wingrove’s off-spin, Degg and Balroop were bowling well in tandem but with no luck and Upminster made steady progress, which would have been quicker had the long outfield not slowed the ball.

Degg gave way to Cameron Maxwell who produced a tight six-over spell without reward before the second wicket fell in Peter Bainbridge’s opening over, again a catch for Balroop off a miscued drive.

Danny Cocklin managed to overcome his oversized boots to bowl five tidy overs.

Boon picked up a wicket when a toe-ended sweep popped up to Nigel Bacon at square leg before Degg and Balroop returned to bowl the final overs. Balroop gained a deserved wicket, care of another catch by Bacon, and Upminster had crawled past 200 when the 45 overs were up, opener Tigg carrying his bat for an unbeaten 97.

Brentwood had remained upbeat and as lively in the field as a team packed with veterans could be expected to manage, wicketkeeper Ben Cocklin rolling back the years with an accomplished display behind the stumps.

A splendid tea ensued, provided by the Boon Family Ltd, during which Chris asked the pertinent question: When there are lovingly crafted homemade cakes on the table, why do some people opt for Cadbury’s rolls?

After having smashed 345 for two on the back pitch the previous week, Brentwood were feeling positive and confidence was boosted by the opening stand of Sonny Willis and Dave Smith.

Both hit some crisp shots and were threatening to put Brentwood firmly on the path to success when, after taking the score serenely to 40, Willis edged Dan Tyler to slip in the 11th over.

No worries, in strode Nigel Bacon with his recently, and expensively, purchased lethal weapon - his four successive half-centuries having even persuaded Mrs Bacon to make a rare trip to watch her husband transform into Warsop-man, slayer of bowlers, scourge of fielders.

Warsop-man was swiftly off the mark with a trademark four powerfully cut to third man but, horror of horrors, as if exposed to Kryptonite, he then made a miscalculation on length and edged Tyler to gulley.

Ben Cocklin's seasonal batting debut was shortlived. He played a neat glance to leg and set off for the run without noticing the ball had been stopped by a fielder. To wails from the stunned crowd of "No Ben, get back", he narrowly failed to retrieve his ground and was run out for one.

So, 45 for three and situation urgent. Boon joined Smith and tried to repair the damage. Smith was still looking good, pulling anything short on his legs to the boundary, but after reaching 41, he was presented with a half-tracker by Mark D'Cruz and smacked it straight down cover's throat.

When drinks came after 23 overs, Brentwood were behind the pace at 83 for four and in need of heroics. Boon and Balroop threatened briefly to provide the fireworks, Boon smacking some powerful cuts to the cover boundary with such gusto that he ricked his back. After calling for Deep Heat, he swiftly departed, playing on to Arun Kullar, who was in the middle of a tight 12-over spell of spin (though he didn't seem to be spinning it).

Degg smoked one huge straight six off Kullar but then feathered an edge behind off D'Cruz and Wingrove went first ball, caught and bowled by Kullar.

There was a slight wag of the tail when Maxwell joined Balroop, but by now the run rate was spiralling. Maxwell fell for 16 and when Balroop, on 38, was victim of a smart running catch by wicketkeeper Bean-Wilson, who moments earlier had been limping as if shot in the calf, the run chase was effectively over. Bainbridge was caught at long on in the 43rd over to end proceedings with Brentwood 40 runs short.

The result leaves Brentwood with only the doomed Loughton beneath them. The fight to avoid the second relegation place would seem to involve Brentwood and South Woodford, who are one point ahead. 

This Saturday, Brentwood mosey on over to Shenfield.

Report by Peter Bainbridge

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