2nd XI Vs Buckhurst Hill

Buckhurst Hill 2nd XI 147, Brentwood 2nd XI 148-3

Brentwood won by seven wickets

Report by Peter Bainbridge

A clinical performance from a makeshift Brentwood side disposed of mid-table rivals Buckhurst Hill.

On a flat batting track, Brentwood restricted the home side to a paltry score and cruised to victory with 11 overs to spare despite a 30-minute interruption for rain.

Paul Degg with four for 35 and Ben Sach with 65 runs were the headline acts, but this was a highly polished all-round performance which belied the fact that the team had been put together on the back of Chris Boon Junior's fag packet.

As the Chris Boon in question had been included in Joe Buttleman's back-of-a-fag packet 1st XI, Chris Boon Senior was left with the job of moulding a motley crew into a coherent, effective, drilled cricketing unit - an obviously unachievable aim but one which he at least manfully attempted.

Winning the toss and electing to bowl, Boon must have been pleasantly surprised to see his pre-match plea to Paul Degg to channel his emotions into propelling the ball down the pitch rather than abusing the umpire followed to the letter.

Despite an official warning for running down the pitch, Degg remained impassive, focusing on an impressive seven-over opening burst that brought him an early wicket to a catch behind.

With Peter Bainbridge restricting runs from the other end and the fielding hitting high standards, the Buckhurst Hill innings struggled to get off the ground and was further hindered by a run-out, skilfully overseen by James Welham after slick work in the outfield by Sam Dawes. Jon Hilliard replacing Degg, then won an lbw appeal, although it should not really go down as his wicket because only Boon at first slip bothered to appeal, and the score was 40 for three after 17 overs.

The rain then forced an interruption, spent hearing what had put a smile on Ben Sach's face that morning and that, according to Will Buttleman, Buckhurst Hill was in London, not Essex.

The interruption meant five overs were lost - Buckhurst Hill due to face 47 rather than 52 - and the batsmen resumed with more intent, if no more success. Bainbridge, constantly amazed that fielders stopped shots rather than simply watched them fly past to the boundary as usually happens in the third team, picked up a couple of wickets before Buckhurst Hill's captain started a rearguard rally.

Boon brought his "tweakers" into the attack and to general amusement struck with an lbw in his second over - the batsman presumably not believing he was about to face yet another straight one.

Degg returned at the other end and crucially snapped up the Buckhurst Hill skipper, caught behind. Boon induced an ugly swipe which resulted in a simple catch. Degg, in his new responsible mode, then fulfilled his captain's instructions by ripping out the middle stump of the Nos 10 and 11 in successive deliveries to polish off the innings in the 41st over. A job well done.

Brentwood's reply suffered an early setback when Buttleman edged behind. On his adult league debut, it may have been something of an eye opener for the youngster, informed as he was by short leg that the 6ft 8in opening bowler was a child hater who was likely to cause him grievous injury.

Sach, as he had done in the morning, rose to the challenge. In company with Kieran Emmanuel, he saw off the new-ball threat before making stylish headway. Barring one mishit drive from Emmanuel which dollied up to mid off only to be comically spilled, the pair had few alarms as they consolidated Brentwood's dominance. When Emmanuel was trapped lbw, the score was 70 and Welham was sent in to speed up the run chase as black clouds skirted the ground.

Despite Sach dominating the strike - passing his 50 in the process - Welham managed to biff boundaries from the few deliveries he faced and the match was almost over when Sach miscued and was caught.

Mark Baldock and Welham saw Brentwood over the line after just 32.4 overs.

(Some figures may be slightly out as this report was written before the Playcricket site had been updated. Apologies if anyone has been diddled).