Brentwood CC Victorians Vs Noak Hill Taveners

Brentwood Victorians V Noak Hill Taverners 22nd June 2014

A sweltering day saw the return of Bob O’Brien, much to the relief of the rest of the team who were starting to believe that he had been abducted by a religious sect.

Noak Hill Taverners made the trip to Brentwood for this seasons return match. The Vic’s skipper almost predictably lost the toss and was asked to field.

Fearnhead and Horswill opened the bowling and it was Horswill who struck first to remove the Noak Hill opener French, who with O’Sullivan, was starting to look set for a long innings. Hilliard and Sach took the next spell but without much joy. Due to the heat, the Vic’s skipper protected his bowlers by regularly rotating the attack.  O’Brien was next and despite a few rusty wides, struck in his 2nd over to have Raza very smartly taken to a screamer of a catch by Pinkney at 1st slip. Some poor fielding, dropped catches and overthrows allowed the scoreboard to keep ticking over but wickets were also falling. Hull was brought on and promptly moped up the Noak Hill tail. The pick of the bowlers was Horswill – 3 wickets, 2 maidens for 24 runs off 8 overs and Hull – 3 wickets for 24 runs off 3.1 overs. 32 extras were recorded including 15 byes from Alford who, it is fair to say, has had better days behind the stumps. Noak Hill were bowled out for 232.

As in the first game of the season, the Victorians opened their innings with Richard Walford and Mick Pinkney. Pinkney made a slow start and only had 1 run on the board to Walford’s 21 before deciding it was time to hit the accelerator. Runs came quickly as Pinkney started hitting the ball to all parts of the ground while Walford patiently carved out another big score for the Vic’s. Pinkney fell for 41 which brought another absentee to the crease. Dougie Maxwell played his usual array of late cuts and even surprised the crowed with a beautifully executed square cut before chopping the ball onto his stumps for 19. Dawes was next, bravely playing following a spell in the local hospital after a nasty drinking session the previous night. This may also be part of the reason that he had an early shower after scoring just 6 runs. Walford was still plugging away when Hull joined him. Hull wasted no time getting off the mark and blasted 15 not out before Walford (124 not out) finished the game with 3 4’s off the next over.

The Victorians won by 7 wickets.