A well-paced innings, followed by some tight bowling helped a Brentwood team containing seven under-12s edge out local rivals Shenfield.

Captain Luke Brailey’s excellent individual performance included winning the toss and electing to bat.

Sajjan Sra was quickly into his stride, hitting the third ball for four and the next back over the bowler’s head for three. Unfortunately he miscued a short delivery in the third over and was out for eight.

With deliveries regularly rising sharply off a length, Brailey and James Bainbridge defended stoutly against the new ball until Bainbridge got himself in a knot and, with his bat stuck behind his pad, missed a straight one, out for six with the score on 16 after six overs.

Jack Payne joined Brailey and as usual wasted no time in pushing up the scoring rate. The pair found Shenfield’s change bowlers to their liking and Payne’s first four scoring shots were all boundaries. With some excellent, aggressive running, the pair put on 63 in just eight overs. Payne, having struck successive deliveries for four and then six was trapped lbw by the next, gone for a superb 43.

Matt Fox continued the good work and helped add 30 in six overs for the fourth wicket before Brailey was bowled for 23 going for a big hit.

The innings ended on 116 for five, Shenfield’s Henry Rapport being the pick of the bowlers with figures of three for three from his four overs.

With a challenging score to defend, the advice at the break was for the Brentwood pace bowlers not to become fixated with the bounce of the pitch but to maintain a good length.

Alex Berry followed the brief and gave away just nine runs from his first three overs but Matt Fox struggled with his run-up and came in for punishment.

With danger man Tom Ballington dropped in the deep by Bainbridge in the fifth over, fortune seemed to be frowning on Brentwood. Ballington and opening partner Tom Stoffer made serene progress and at halfway, the score stood at 62 for none.

At that point, the momentum of the game suddenly shifted. Teddy Mortlock started a superb spell of fast, accurate bowling from one end and Brailey snapped up the wicket of Ballington at the other with a smart caught and bowled off a powerfully struck drive.

With their talisman gone, the Shenfield innings stalled. Dan Peakall stumped the No3 off Brailey, and Shenfield were suddenly in trouble, needing 37 off the last five overs.

Stoffer was well caught at mid-off by Lewis Arthur off Mortlock. and Brailey then took another caught and bowled, leaving the equation being 18 runs to win off two overs.

Although some observers raised their eyebrows after his first three overs had cost 29 runs, Fox was brought back into the attack and justified his captain’s faith by giving away just three runs and picking up a wicket. A brave over for bowler and captain.

Berry was left to ball the last six deliveries with Shenfield needing 15. A run out off the first, two singles and a two left them wanting 11 off the last two. Surely, Brentwood were safe. Not exactly - Jack Newton swung to leg and threatened to clear the boundary, only for the ball to bounce two yards inside. Six to tie. Berry fired in a yorker which finally settled the issue, the ball squirting away to fine leg for a single.

A great effort by the boys to turn the match round, Brailey’s reflex catch to get rid of Ballington being the key moment but a generally good, positive attitude in the field supporting the bowlers’ efforts.

The team received their cup from former England and Essex spinner Robin Hobbs and were congratulated on their well-constructed innings and the positive running between the wickets. A great way to round off the season.

Brentwood batting: Sra 8, Bainbridge 6, Brailey 23, Payne 43, Fox 16no, Berry O, Arthur 2, Mortlock 3no. Did not bat: Peakall, Jensen, Gifford.

Brentwood bowling: Berry (4-1-18-0), Fox (4-0-32-1), Payne (4-0-21-0), Mortlock (4-0-16-1) and Brailey (4-0-17-3).

Thanks to Peter Bainbridge for the match report.