3rd XI Vs Shenfield

Brentwood were on the winning end of a close game against local rivals Shenfield on Saturday. Because South Woodford lost their game, the 3’s are also now out of the relegation zone. Shenfield would have been happy after they posted 275 batting first but Brentwood chased down the massive total with 4 wickets in hand in the last over. 

SBrentwood produced another very strong team, featuring pace and mid order batting duo Degg and Balroop, the return of Ben Sach, as well as Micky and Jack Payne who re-entered the team. James Berry moved in at number three, giving the team an around blend of youth and experience. 

The dry and flat Shenfield pitch didn’t offer a great deal for the opening bowlers Degg and Maxwell (Balroop was late to the match after someone drove into the back of his car). Despite this, pressure created by some tidy line bowlingproduced the first wicket which was a slog caught by Wingrove.

The next wicket would not come for another 19 overs. James Berry bowled a steady spell without much reward as the first wicket put on a 109 run partnership. Dave Balroop bowled a tough 12 overs in the heat, while at the other end Berryeventually got the opener to nick off to second slip for 57, which was a spectacular diving catch by Chris Boon snr, a common exhibition in the 3’s. 

Dave Balroop then got a ball to rise off a length and dolly up to Ben Cocklin in the 29th over, but Shenfield’s number three made batting look very easy. Shenfield were 150-2 off 30 overs, so clearly Brentwood’s tendency to drift off in the last 15 overs cost dearly, despite the fielding team using hands, chest, and knee cap to try and protect the short boundary.

The conditions didn’t particularly suit Micky Payne’s bowling, whose 0-36 off 4 probably made him wish he was still sipping a beer on a beach in Turkey. 

Wingrove darted through some quick overs and Boony’s three overs produced the fifth wicket LBW, but Shenfield’s number 3 was well set on over 100 by this stage: the last five overs went for 74 runs. Brentwood walked back to the changing rooms demoralised, dehydrated, hungry, bruised and whiplashed. 

In spite of this, the run chase got off to a great start; Sachlooked as if he had picked off exactly where he left off against Loughton, and Willis made use of the rapid outfield driving and cutting every other ball for four. 

After Willis brought up his 50, Sach was caught for 35, bringing James Berry to the crease. Berry instantly looked to play positively, crunching drives past fielders while Willis waited for anything off line to cut away at the other end. Sonny couldn’t continue towards three figures as he chipped one back to the bowler for a well-made 83. 

Ben Cocklin played a calm hand ignoring the pressure of the time ticking on with still a lot of runs to get, although the run rate was still in control at around 6 an over. James Berry still looked in fantastic touch playing orthodox then reverse-sweeps for four, making batting look too easy. In the end Berry was stumped for 43 trying to play one shot too many. 

Jack Payne hit a breezy 14 before getting out caught, and the game was beginning to look close with wickets slowly falling. However, some spectators were ignorant of the importance of this game for Brentwood 3XI’s season while walking behind the bowlers arm. Cocklin politely suggested for them to move.

Cocklin got out in a similar fashion to Willis, patting a ball back to the bowler for 21, as Brentwood seemed to be falling short of the total. Degg came in and batted with a sense of freedom, nonchalantly smashing Shenfield’s off spinner for huge sixes over cow corner. Before getting out for 29 Deggyreleased a lot of pressure and Boony, although he described his batting as trying to hack and poke the ball away hopelessly for singles, did not look like getting out. Balroop came in to see the game through. 

Needing some 19 or so runs off three, Boon and Balroopplayed the situation intelligently, while Wingrove and Maxwell were pacing around nervously with their pads on. One crucial moment was where Balroop skied a chance to deep long on which looked like the final wicket, until the ball smashed into the fielders face instead. Sighs of relief from the Brentwood camp were muted as the fielder had to be rushed off covered in blood but thankfully he was not too badly injured.

A couple of boundaries in the penultimate over left Brentwood needing six to win off the final over. The first ball was hit over the bowlers head for four, then Balroop nudged a single, putting Brentwood into a rare position where for once we could not lose the game. Boony hit the winning run in the third ball of the final over, the two then walked off to an applause as silhouettes of two victorious champions as the sun set over the Shenfield back pitch. What a win. 

Although Brentwood fielded poorly, allowing Shenfield to score around fifty runs more than they deserved, an all-round strong batting performance won Brentwood the game. Also, to score 143 not out and then lose must be f***ing annoying!

Report by Cameron Maxwell