3rd XI Vs Hutton

A rainy draw closed the Third XI’s 2016 season, where, under the Bainbridge captaincy the team put in an all-round good effort in the field, restricting Hutton to 208. The weather only permitted time for some good batting by Shane Surujbally and Nigel Bacon before the coverswere brought on after 20.5 overs.  

The morning started with a very hungover Cameron Maxwell arriving at Hutton to the worst news possible: “Fielding first boys.”  

The ten and a half players got off to a racing start with Oli Valentini taking the opening batsman’s off stump out of the ground in the third over.

At the other end, Alex Berry was getting the ball to swing and when he found his rhythm, produced an amazing delivery which started outside leg and swung in to hit leg stump – clearly something Alex was working on in the Thursday nets.  

Ewan Smith came on first change and Peter Bainbridge brought himself on at Alex’s end. Bainbridge swung the ball away and got a nick to second slip. Standing there was a still dreadful-looking Maxwell, who by some miracle held on to the catch.  

Another miracle occurred when Maxwell, who ambled in very slowly after a heavy night out, got a wicket caught slip by Ewan Smith diving full stretch to his right taking the catch at ankle height. The slips agreed this catch was more impressive than when Strauss caught Gilchrist in 2005.  

Arun Gautham notably bowled very well and turned the ball a long way. He bowled very tight at one end for no wicket while Maxwell bowled full tosses both sides of the wicket at the other.  

Valentini came back on and was too quick for the Hutton batsmen, finishing his spell of 10 overs with two for 40. Bainbridge also came back on to get the final wicket in the final over. With a few batsmen getting starts but no one getting more than 50, Brentwood went to tea with their hopes up.  

Surujbally and Sam Dawes opened the batting in overcast conditions. Hutton had a decent attack and the ball swung around but Sam Dawes was the only wicket to fall. Shane hit the ball cleanly and Nigel slashed outside off stump in trademark style.  

The 2016 season has had transient highs and many more painful lows. One telling characteristic of the team has been how the team has been able to produce enough fight to avoid the looming threat of relegation.

One example which comes to mind is the run chase in the fading light at Shenfield. A noteworthy individual performance which has to be mentioned is Ben Sach’s 166 not out against Loughton.  

Confirmation of the highest run scorers for the 3XI this season is still pending confirmation, but according to playcricket.com, Nigel’s 51 last week should technically put him 12 runs clear of Sonny  

Report by Cameron Maxwell  

Captain for the day Bainbridge adds

Thanks for the report Cameron. Tis true, he cut a sorrowful-looking figure when he arrived late after his previous night's overindulgence (thanks a lot, Dougie), delivered in the care of his mother who confessed that her son was very hungover before apologising to him for "dobbing you in it".

After declining to open the bowling because he was struggling to hold onto his breakfast, he somehow held onto a catch which encouraged him to come on first change - as he says, he then spewed the ball around, principally because he could not decide which of the three sets of stumps he should aim at. 

The catch by Euan Smith was a worldy, far better than Strauss's Superman catch. http://www.cricketcountry.com/news/superman-andrew-strauss-sends-back-the-dangerous-adam-gilchrist-505988

Just imagine a right-handed Strauss going to his right and taking the ball cleanly by the fingertips - and the crowd cheering even more loudly. That was Euan's.

Berry, Valentini, Bainbridge and, even, Maxwell each bagged two wickets: however, Gautham was the pick of the bowlers despite getting only one. On a dry pitch, his variations had batsmen tied in knots.

The fielding was sharp, especially Luke Brailey and Rob Jones, but from 106-6, Hutton staged something of a recovery to reach 208 all out after 49.4 overs. However, on a bouncy pitch and fast outfield, it was looking a meagre total as Shane and Nigel smashed the bowlers to all parts.

Shane showed the early aggression, but Nigel finished with a flourish, concerned that he would run out of time before passing Sonny Willis's season's tally of runs. Nigel had worked out that he needed 41, so with the rain starting to hammer down in the 20th over and the fielders looking to the sanctuary of the pavilion, he went from 37 to 51 in three balls - four, four, six - before running for cover, giving the air a little punch as he departed.

 http://essexcl.play-cricket.com/website/results/2694224