Brentwood CC Victorians Vs Willingale

Brentwood Victorians V Willingale 27th April 2014

Despite weather reports of rain for most of Sunday, this game started on time with the sun trying its best to peak through the clouds.

A change of fortune saw the Vic’s captain win his first toss of the season and feeling confident in the strength of his team, decided to bat first.

A decision that appeared well founded when the impressive opening partnership of Surajbally and Pinkney got amongst the Willingale bowlers and looked to be cruising before Pinkney (33) was caught at extra cover by one of the four Brentwood players who had defected to Willingale for this match. This was the start of a collapse not seen in the Victorians since the 90’s. From a strong position of 63 without loss in the 13th over, the Vic’s were reduced to 80 for 6 by the 21st over with numbers 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 managing just 6 runs between them. Joff Fearnhead came in at number 9 and ignored the carnage that preceded him, rapidly reaching 25 (including an impressive 6 off only his 4th ball) before he too fell at the fence. Surajbally stuck around for as long as he could finally being caught for a well earned 71. This brought O’Brien and Alford to the crease to try and post a score that the bowlers could defend. However, Alford fell quickly to the very impressive bowling of 10 year old F Read to end the Vic’s innings on 149.

Following a tea of curry, rice and chips the Vic’s took to the field full of determination. The bowling opened with Fearnhead and Ahmad who took a wicket a piece but had gone for 70 runs in the first 10 overs. One again the Vic’s skipper turned to O’Brien for some of his magic but, despite assuring the skipper that he “fully appreciated the situation”, leaked runs like an old colander with a very large hole in its bottom. Hilliard bowled with aggression, even wrapping Horswill on the helmet with a fast, short pitched delivery. However, the damage had been done and inevitably Willingale crossed the winning line thanks to two wide deliveries from the first two balls bowled by Balroop (who is becoming increasingly like his mentor – Ash Patel) leaving him with figures of 0 overs 4 runs for 0 wickets.

Willingale won by 7 wickets.