4th XI Vs Chingford 4th

This week’s home fixture saw the visit of Chingford (and their eccentric captain) to the OCG back pitch to face the Brentwood 4th XI. With the club getting six teams out in all, the 4th XI was particularly strong and with the weather set fair, skipper Ranns was confident of getting a positive result.

The game started in much the same way as the last few weeks with Brentwood losing the toss but being asked to do what they’d have chosen themselves. Given the temperature it seemed odd to want to be in the field first however given Chingford’s canny ability to cling on for a draw, the hosts fancied their chances at chasing whatever Chingford would post.

Luke Wells and youngster Will Davey opened the bowling with Wells in particular causing early problems for the batsmen. He easily could have had 2 wickets in his first over after Ryan Pocock dropped a chance at first slip and what looked like a stone wall LBW was turned down. The two openers Masoom Ali and Malik Ali continued to flirt with danger with a few wild swings and Davey being punished for a slightly skewed radar.

With Davey’s 4th over going for 12, Ranns brought on left arm spinner Nirav Parekh and, as he so often does, Parekh struck early. With the first ball of his 2nd over, a full ball hit Masoom Ali in front and dismissed him LBW for 7. Parekh then picked off the other Ali in his 4th over as he bowled him for 33.

Chingford number 3 Ali Butt (33) scored quickly with some fours and sixes, and managed to survive a high skied chance to Harry Hobson but it was one shot too many when he offered a simple chance to Pocock at backward point shortly before drinks.

Following the break, the visitors resumed on 89-3 with changes at both ends for the hosts in the field with captain Dan Ranns coming from the road end and Arun Gautham at the other. Barring the very odd stray ball they both kept it tight with Ranns getting the breakthrough courtesy of a cut straight to Sam Dawes at point by Howard Nicholson.

The unorthodox Bill Nasir came in at no.6 for Chingford and for a while caused some problems for the hosts. His mix of pretty solid defence and brutal clubbary saw him mainly work in boundaries or a single to deep mid-on. Again it was a shot too many after scoring the lions share (38) in a partnership of 45 he holed out to Dawes at deep mid-off with Ranns picking up his 2nd wicket.

Then came the moment that Ranns had been waiting for since last season’s home game when he was greeted by Chingford skipper Carey Harborne’s manhood five minutes before the toss (pun definitely intended!). Following another drop out in the deep, Hobson had been moved into the gulley area where he was to take his 2nd outstanding catch of the season. Harborne slashed at a Ranns delivery and the ball looped into the air over the cordon. Hobson gave chase and made an astonishing diving grab with the ball going over his head to dismiss the Chingford character for a two-ball duck. I for one have never heard such elation from Ranns in celebration of a wicket.

From 145-6, Chingford then proceeded to collapse with some bizarre running between the wickets as the very pedestrian (26 off 81 balls) Andy Huckle first ran out Mark Bridge for 1 and shortly after Jack Page for 0 with Wells and then the combo of Parekh and Pocock completing the run outs.

The final two wickets fell to the birthday boy Ranns as Huckle skied one to Barry Brooks and then William Burke hit one straight at Hobson to bowl out the visitors for 166 with one over to spare and the Brentwood skipper returning figures of 11-1-45-5, his second 5 wicket haul for the club following his 7-40 last season against Upminster.

Whereas last year, Ranns saw his side fail to back his bowling display, this year’s crew were determined to bring home the victory and it’s safe to say the writing was on the wall from the offset with 9 runs coming off the first over, all by the way of the extras column.

With Harborne’s second over also receiving a bit of tap, the score raced to 38 off of four overs with only 13 runs actually coming off of the bat. With openers Brooks and Tom Harries remaining watchful, it looked as though they may finish off the chase themselves until young Jack Page bowled a full toss that Brooks missed. He was struck on the pad and adjudged LBW for 25.

Pocock came in at no.3 following his 90 last week but survived an early LBW shout himself second ball before settling in. As Harborne returned to bowl “leg cutters” that didn’t cut, Pocock hit him for three boundaries in his first over back, including back-to-back identical drives through extra-cover.

The pair safely saw the hosts through to drinks following Harries bringing up his second 50 of the season with a whack to deep mid-wicket for 4. After the drinks break the hosts required 36 to win off of the final 17 overs. Pocock and Harries continued to bat safely as they comfortably nudged the 4’s towards victory and the win was confirmed with 12 overs to spare as Harries took ten off of the returning Nasir to end with 85 not out and Pocock 28 not out.

20 points and a comfortable 9 wicket victory for Brentwood to move them clear of the bottom three teams who’ll be fighting to remain in the league. Jugs all around in the bar afterwards with the triple celebration of a Ranns birthday, a Ranns 5-for and a Harries half century to end a great day for the club with 5 out of the 6 sides winning.

Next week, the 4’s travel to Wanstead in search of more revenge for an early season defeat. There will no doubt be some sore heads following the PCA event the day before at the club on Friday 22nd July which will surely be a great day for all involved. Don’t miss out!! 

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