4th XI Vs Upminster 5th

Brentwood 239-7 off of 40 overs

Upminster 125 all out off of 25 overs.

It’s been a strange old season so far for Brentwood 4’s . A loss a couple of weeks ago when the game looked won. The worst tea’s ever known to man. Opposition players wearing jeans. And this week didn’t bode well when Upminster informed our captain Dan Ranns that we would be playing on the turgid astro strip at Coopers school. Dan organised for the game to be played at Brentwood School but Upminster were too slow in paying the extra £20 and the pitch was taken by another team.

Upminster won the toss and decided to field. The plastic pitch in all fairness didn’t play too bad but the ball still swang and Harry Hobson got a faint outside edge straight  to the keeper. Ewan Smith was hitting the ball well but not getting value for his shots as the outfield was in fact a rugby pitch. He departed for 23, run out when if he had slid his bat he would have been in easy. The young pair of Lois Morris and Jack Levy were now at the crease and did a really good job of ticking the score along without giving any chances until Lois was caught and bowled for 23. Maxwell senior and Levy carried on the good work until  Jack was bowled for a very mature 45. Barry Brooks got out to a blinding catch for 4 and this brought  Anam Hussein to the crease. Anam in his laid back manner started to club the ball to all parts of the ground and the run rate increased .Andy Maxwell departed for 25.  Harb Pabla 9  then Will Davey both accompanied Anam in the middle and Brentwood finished up at 239 off of their allotted 40 overs with Anam not out on 79.

No one really knew if this was a good score on the small pitch and initially Upminster were up with the run rate and had the same score as Brentwood after 20 overs, 89 for 3. Will Davey had bowled really well and was unfortunate to get only 1 wicket. Jack Levy was trying to get to grips with how to set a field to a 4/5th team batsmen compared with 2nd team fields but picked up a wicket with a nice catch from Smith

Mick Payne on the other hand has got a lot of experience at setting fields to lower league batsmen and with some blinding catching from Morris and Anam he picked up 4 wickets. Anam then showed he can also bowl as well as bat as 2 more wickets fell. Harb who had opened the bowling with his off spin came on to bowl their number 9 and Morris wrapped up the innings  with a great catch from Davey.

Brentwood are looking strong as a club at the moment. I can’t remember a 4th team game where 2 of the players have also played 2nd team cricket a couple of weeks ago. Where an opener for the 3’s is averaging about 30 but played in the 4’s.

But before we discuss the politics of selection etc. etc. Just think what our captain Mr Ranns done for us this week. He organised the availability for the 3,4,5 and 6thteam. Got the pitch sorted for the 6th team. Even got a spare pitch for Upminster but they mucked it up.

Dan bowled 3 overs and did not bat.

Away to West Essex next week. Enjoy boys!

Mick Payne