2009 Season 3rd XI Match Reports

16th May

Brentwood 3rd XI - 161-6
Woodford Wells 3rd XI - 160 all out
Brentwood won by 4 wickets

Report by Peter Bainbridge

Brentwood were indebted to a deep batting line-up as they sealed their first Premier Division win of the season.

After sliding to 55 for five in reply to Woodford Wells' meagre total, Brentwood recovered well to eventually win with four wickets and 15 overs to spare.

This represented something of a must-win game for Brentwood. Woodford Wells are traditionally weak at the start of the season while they await the return from universities of the bulk of their talent and as Brentwood had struggled to avoid relegation for the last three seasons, they needed to capitalise.

With a swift outfield on the back pitch but a typically low, slow track, Woodford Wells batted first and struggled to break the shackles imposed by Peter Bainbridge (old guy, bowling into the wind) and James Welham (youngster bowling with the wind). Good work in the field by Ben Holmes and wicketkeeper Elliott Skinner brought the first wicket courtesy of a run out and Bainbridge quickly took the second thanks to a smart catch at mid off by Sam Rounce.

Ben Holmes had a go downwind, mixing some unplayable deliveries with a few too many loose balls before giving way to the off spin of Sam Rounce as Woodford Wells plodded on. By the 26th over, the score stood at 80 for two and the match was still in the balance. Rounce's leg-side attack was rewarded with the wicket of the dangerous opener, well caught at backward square leg by Greg Holmes.

Bainbridge was replaced at the wind-in-your-face end by 13-year-old off-spinner Harry Levy who immediately impressed with his turn and flight. He might have claimed at least two victims before eventually getting a wicket, care of a stumping by Skinner. Rounce's second wicket reduced Woodford Wells to 130 for five.

When the spinners were replaced by the opening attack, the end was swift. Bainbridge bagged four wickets in two overs and the last man fell to a run out as Woodford Wells subsided to 160 all out, Bainbridge finishing with five for 48 from 16 overs. A good effort all round by the home side. This seemed at least 60 runs below par but the way Brentwood started the reply, put that in doubt. Shane Surujbally, Andy Taker, Peter Morgan, Levy and Greg Holmes all fell relatively cheaply. Fortunately, 15-year-old opener Skinner remained defiant and, in tandem with Ben Holmes, took Brentwood towards victory.

With a classically straight bat, Elliott looked immovable and it was something of a surprise when he reached for a very wide delivery and scooped the ball up to cover to be caught for 34. That only brought James Welham to the crease and he quickly removed any final doubts about the outcome. A dazzling array of fours and sixes took Brentwood past the target with plenty of overs to spare. Welham finished unbeaten on 34 and Holmes on a very mature 35.

If Brentwood put out this strength of side every week, relegation will not be a concern - but as recent seasons have shown, availability is so inconsistent, nothing can be taken for granted.

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23rd May

Wanstead 3rd XI - 277-8
Brentwood 3rd XI - 149 all out
Wanstead won by 128 runs

Report by Trevor Coote

Scorecard

Captain Trevor Coote must have thought that his batting line up was as strong as any in the league he was disappoint as his side was bowled out for just 149 against a strong Wanstead side.

Brentwood started well getting skipper Southcott early and the ex skipper of Ilford 2nd XI followed quickly the signs were looking good but the old saying catches win matches with five catches being spilled Brentwood were on the receiving end of some aggressive batting with both Hutchings and Ishtiq (previous weeks centurions) Hutchings unfortunately ran out gave the home side their first piece of luck but this brought in Woolof who hits the ball as hard as any body in club cricket he was particularly severe on anything short or full length he scored a rapid 63 before being enticed out by young Harry Levy. Wanstead continued their aggressive batting and declared on 277 after 47 overs.

In response Brentwood lost two quick wickets to the suspect action of Sawant before morgan and raja restored some respectability to the score but as wickets continued to fall due to poor shots from the middle order it was left to holmes to try and steer the home side to the 150 he batted well and missed out on a well deserved 50 by hitting a full toss straight to cow corner.

Sawant was brought back to remove Coote and Ishtiq complete a good day by bowling Rounce with 8 overs left.

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30th May

Brentwood 3rd XI - 197-7
Gidea Park & Romford 3rd XI - 198-2
Gidea Park & Romford won by 8 wickets

Report by Peter Bainbridge

Scorecard

Brentwood are in danger of a fourth successive battle against relegation from the Premier Division if this result is to be taken at face value.

GPR restricted a powerful-looking Brentwood batting line-up to a below-par score and then made easy work of rattling off the runs in 44 overs with eight wickets to spare. This third defeat out of four matches leaves Brentwood with only Hainault beneath them in the table and a trip to leaders Five and Heronians to look forward to this weekend.

On a sunny day with a deceptively chilly breeze (fully vindicating those shrewd enough to have carried a jumper with them on the long walk to the back pitch), Brentwood captain Trevor Coote elected to bat first. With second-team exiles sprinkled throughout the team, the batting line-up, on paper at least, was the strongest fielded for several seasons.

The reality did not match the expectation and Brentwood made sluggish progress in the face of nagging bowling, with the ever reliable Paul Winmill chief tormentor.

Mark Baldock played a couple of tasty pull shots before mistiming another and being caught at midwicket for 14. Shane Surujbally was uncharacteristically restrained and eventually gave a catch to gully from his leading edge as he tried to nurdle Winmill round to fine leg, out for 13. While Peter Morgan found the vagaries of the track difficult to contend with and struggled to push the scoring along, Paul Larner looked more at ease and unleashed a series of impressive cuts that flew to the boundary.

Drinks arrived with the score at 70 for two and Brentwood needing to push on. Larner smacked a big straight six but was then clean bowled for 47 trying to repeat the feat. Fortunes worsened as Jaba Raja (10), Ben Holmes (0) and James Welham (4) all fell cheaply and when Morgan, who had started to score more freely, departed for 46, Brentwood were struggling at 140 for seven.

Coote strode to the crease with his splendid new bat and was quickly swinging it lustily, hitting the ball with all his might. Sadly, the ball struggled to get off the square, so Coote dispensed with his blade (a Woodworm by the way) and found a sweeter spot in a borrowed bat.

With Harry Levy providing good support, Coote took Brentwood past the 150 and 175 marks and even threatened to topple 200 with a 52nd-over barrage that put the appreciative crowd in mind of Colin Milburn (if you don't know him, ask your dad, or your grandad, or if they were too young, then try Ash Patel).

Coote (39no) declared at 197 for seven, a total that was maybe 30 under what he would have wanted at the start, but plenty more than had looked likely at the three-quarter stage. Levy was unbeaten on eight.

There was precious little else for Brentwood to cheer. As if exhausted by chewing the inedible crusts on the tea-time sandwiches, the home side's bowlers were unable to put GPR under any semblance of pressure.

James Welham bowled a tidy opening spell, in contrast to the ageing Peter Bainbridge, who sprayed the ball around in uncustomary style. When Bainbridge swapped ends, he managed a caught and bowled off one that popped - giving Brentwood hope that the pitch might undermine the run chase - but then reverted to serving up a delicious feast of full tosses.

Levy came into the attack and immediately caused problems with his prodigious turn. But as runs flowed from the other end, the batsmen were happy to play him with caution. The vastly experienced Ron Montgomery used his pad more often than his bat as Levy's spin confounded him but hung around and fed from the other end. He reached his century in the 42nd over, punching the air in the style of Andrew Strauss, and was on 103 when the winning runs arrived with five of the last 20 overs to spare.

Levy's figures of 15.3-4-52-1 were meagre reward for a superb spell. It might have been a very different story had the batsmen been compelled to attack him. Brentwood's bowlers need to give him more support if they are to avoid another relegation struggle.

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6th June

Fives & Heronians 3rd XI - 148 all out
Brentwood 3rd XI - 149-7
Brentwood won by 3 wickets

Report by Trevor Coote

Scorecard

After losing the toss Brentwood were surprised by the decision of the Fives' captain to bat on what could only be described as a damp pitch.

The opening attack of Sach and Bainbridge proved a handful with three catches being dropped in the first seven overs. The unorthodox batting of the openers proved effective as they were very quick to hit anything that was too short or off line.

Sach finished his spell of five overs unluckily without a wicket. The return of the real Peter Bainbridge after last week's performance was a bonus for the whole of the Brentwood side. After a short aggressive 4 overs from Sam Ali, captain Coote tossed the ball to his young offspinner Levy and despite his youth he bowled with guile and tremendous control.

Brentwood turned the game under the nagging consistence of Bainbridge and the spin of Levy, wickets fell regularly and with some excellent ground fielding and some spectacular catches Fives and Heronians were finally bowled out for 149 in 2 hours 45 minutes.

In reply the youth of Brentwood set about the Fives' opening attack and treated the watching crowd to some excellent shots. Unfortunately Saunders chipped up an easy chance to cover, then what followed was one of the most destructive spells of bowling by the opening bowler Javaid with only Smith being able to survive, let alone score. Javaid picked up 5 wickets and if he had had a good supporting bowler he would have been a match winner.

It was left to Smith to complete a chanceless 50 and guide Brentwood home with 12 overs remaining. Captain Coote was a grateful recipient of 18 points and looking forward to Shenfield next week.

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20th June

Upminster 3rd XI - 286-8
Brentwood 3rd XI - 246-7
Match Drawn

Report by Peter Bainbridge

Scorecard

A good batting effort by Brentwood partially redeemed a sloppy performance with the ball and in the field as Trevor Coote's men and boys followed up two successive wins with a draw at Cooper's School.

Having lost every other toss this season, Coote again called incorrectly and Upminster took first knock on a reasonable track with a fast outfield and short boundary on one side.

Peter Bainbridge bowled economically from one end, but there were mixed offerings from the other as the Upminster openers made good progress. With the score at 130 for none when drinks were taken, Upminster were well in the ascendancy and frustrations grew when young leg spinner Ryan Wells came into the attack and immediately caused problems, only for the chances to be wasted.

Both openers had at least two lives off Wells' bowling before Jaba Raja, inspired by bowling in Coote's boots after forgetting his own, eventually got the breakthrough with the score at 170, Richard Whitehall taking a good running catch at extra cover.

Wells got his reward - and his first-ever third XI wicket - when Whitehall took another catch, this time at deep midwicket, swiftly followed by a second wicket, thanks to Ben Holmes' safe hands at long on.

Raja's magic boots brought an lbw victim and Bainbridge returned to claim three late victims as Upminster threw the bat. The declaration came, rather belatedly perhaps, with the score on 286 for eight after 51.5 overs. The promising Wells took two for 53 from nine overs, Raja two for 28 from six and Bainbridge three for 67 from 20.5.

The target may have been daunting but Brentwood were packed with batting talent so the mood was reasonably optimistic at tea. It darkened soon after when Ronnie Saunders fell cheaply, but Elliott Skinner started to repair the damage with what developed into an innings of the highest class.

It's fair to say Skinner's performance behind the stumps was not his best, but he showed character to put that behind him. Playing classically straight, Skinner punished anything slightly overpitched with a dazzling array of sumptuous drives that had his watching colleagues purring in admiration.

Skinner shared a partnership of 83 with Chris Boon before Boon fell to a superb catch at backward square leg for 21. With Brentwood needing to push on, Raja's appearance at the wicket was exactly what was required and he quickly took advantage of the short boundary.

When the last 20 overs started, Brentwood were 136 for two, needing another 151 for an against-the-odds win but with two in-form batsmen at the crease.

Unfortunately, both fell in quick succession, Raja caught behind for a rapid-fire 31 and Skinner lbw for 84 when he looked booked for a century.

At 157 for four, Brentwood tried to maintain the pursuit and Nigel Bacon led the charge with some powerful shots square of the wicket. Charlie Foster and Whitehall fell cheaply as the pressure gathered and when Bacon departed for 41, it was time to shut up shop. Ben Holmes ended on 24 not out as Brentwood closed on a respectable 246 for seven.

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4th July

Chelmsford 3rd XI - 180 all out
Brentwood 3rd XI - 180 all out
Match Drawn

Report by Peter Bainbridge

Scorecard

An offer of a tie against the league champions and current leaders before the game would probably have been gratefully accepted by Brentwood but in reality it proved slightly frustrating such was their domination for long periods of this match at Chelmer Park.

Six hours' of hard-fought cricket in sub-tropical conditions resulted in Brentwood needing four runs off the last over with two wickets in hand. Tension was sky high as Chelmsford leg-spinner Tom Halsey, already with five wickets in his bag, prepared to bound in. Brentwood hopes rested on Ben Holmes, who was 29 not out and had taken 12 off Halsey's previous offer, including a six over deep mid-on.

Holmes on strike. Here goes. Hang on to your hats...

• Ball 1: Huge swipe and miss by Holmes. No run.
• Ball 2: Huge swipe and miss by an onrushing Holmes. Out stumped. Doh!
• Ball 3: Fourteen-year-old No11 James Bowler scramble-sweeps the ball behind the wicketkeeper. Frantic urgings to run from Brentwood players (including second teamers who had finished their match moments earlier on the adjacent pitch) on the boundary edge. Two runs completed. Two to win.
• Ball 4: Bowler nurdles another single. Huge cheers. Scores level.
• Ball 5: Lloyd Renvoiz takes huge swipe and misses. Ooohs and aaaahs. No run.
• Ball 6: captain Trevor Coote bellows from the boundary just in case his young non-striker does not appreciate the importance of the moment: "James, you must run." Huge guffaws. Halsey bounds in. Bowls. Renvoiz charges, huge swipe, misses... stumped. Chelmsford celebrate. Brentwood shrug shoulders.

Brentwood's confidence was shown from the toss when captain Trevor Coote chose to field first, much to Chelmsford's surprise. "Most teams come here and settle for getting batting points," said opposition captain Barry Clayden. "Well, we've come here to win," replied Coote defiantly.

His decision was vindicated as Brentwood kept the lid on Chelmsford's talented batting line-up despite a lightning-fast outfield and short boundary. Lloyd Renvoiz set the tone with a fiery opening spell that was comfortably the quickest by any Brentwood third teamer since Tony Prior was a pup.

Renvoiz, coming down the hill and with the wind behind, showed great control as he took two wickets in his opening spell. He was ably supported by James Welham, whose left-arm swing claimed another victim to reduce Chelmsford to 52 for three.

Peter Bainbridge, for the first time in his long third-team career not taking the new ball, maintained the pressure from the bottom end, and Ben Sach posed problems from the top.

Chelmsford were never able to dominate and Renvoiz and Welham each took further wickets when they returned for second spells. It was left to 'golden-arm' Chris Boon to take the last wicket as Chelmsford were dismissed for 180 in 45 overs.

Brentwood took tea highly satisfied with their efforts and feeling they would never have a better chance to beat the league champions.

Peter Morgan and Andy Taker made a comfortable start to the reply before Taker chipped up a catch to mid-on with the score on 24. Ben Sach then helped put on 54 runs before Morgan became Halsey's first victim, being stumped down the leg side.

Mark Baldock fell swiftly and when 6pm arrived, Brentwood were 83 for three, needing 98 off the final 20 overs.

The target looked simple as Chris Boon made serene headway, easily picking holes in the field. He had added 41 with Sach before hitting a Halsey full-toss straight down deep-square leg's throat. When Sach departed soon after, quickly followed by Welham, a close finish looked on the cards.

Forty-three runs needed off 10 overs became 27 needed off five as Holmes and Coote edged Brentwood closer. When Holmes smacked 12 off the 18th over, it seemed Brentwood were on the verge of victory, but Chelmsford's nagging accuracy ensured the sides could not be split.

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11th July

Wanstead 3rd XI - 218-8
Brentwood 3rd XI - 217-7
Wanstead won by 2 wickets

Report by Peter Bainbridge

Scorecard

For the second successive week, Brentwood were involved in a match that went down to the last over. After a tie against Chelmsford, this time Brentwood lost out as Wanstead's eighth-wicket pair struck the four runs required to win.

The clock was approaching 8pm by the time the sides left the field as the final 20 overs had been slowed by the need to dry the ball before each delivery. Rain had been falling incessantly from the start of the Wanstead reply and only Brentwood's sporting nature - and the sniff of victory - had kept the game going.

With the gloom making it awkward for fielders, as well as the wet ball being difficult to grip for the bowlers, Wanstead arguably had the best of the conditions, but did well to chase down a decent total thanks to their deep batting line-up.

Brentwood captain Trevor Coote had, as usual, lost the toss, and his side were inserted on a very green track. After a 10-minute rain delay, openers Mark Baldock and Shane Surujbally made an impressive start and quickly rattled past 50 before forced off by another downpour.

Baldock fell immediately after the resumption, tricked by a low bounce, but Surujbally continued to make good headway, being particularly punishing against anything offering width.

Supported by Ben Sach and Chris Boon, Surujbally took Brentwood past the 100 in good time before Wanstead introduced a young leg-spinner who immediately posed problems. He bowled Surujbally for 55 with his wrong 'un and Brentwood's scoring rate slowed up as Wanstead used spin from both ends.

All the batsmen got starts but none were able to go on and make a damaging score. Andy Taker was unfortunate to glove one that reared up off a length, and James Welham struck some luscious drives in his impressive 35.

Brentwood's innings ended frustratingly with a maiden and the score at a reasonable 218 for seven.

Light rain failed to prevent Wanstead's reply starting on time and Brentwood were quickly in the ascendant as James Welham, bowling up the hill, took two early wickets, and Peter Bainbridge a third.

When Micky Payne induced a loose shot from Wanstead's talented number four with only his second ball, the score was 40 for four and Brentwood fancied their chances of wrapping up a quick win.

It all went downhill from there as Wanstead started the final 20 overs needing 140. With Taker forced from the field with a dislocated finger after putting down a difficult catch on the boundary, Brentwood's 10 men struggled to defend the short boundary as they squinted into the murk.

Welham and Payne, the pick of the bowlers, each claimed three wickets as the match hung in the balance and Coote took an amazing diving catch for which words can hardly do justice*.

Wanstead were always just ahead of the required rate but when Sach conceded only four from the penultimate over, Brentwood still had a chance. A three from the first ball of the final over tied the scores and a dashed single from the third decided the result.

It was a brave effort from Brentwood in atrocious conditions and 11 points are not to be sniffed at but in a highly competitive division, they need to start converting strong positions into wins.

*While it is true that the quality of Coote's catch was almost beyond words, your reporter has been firmly instructed (by Coote) to give it his best shot. So here goes. Bainbridge balls full toss (slippery ball, honest), batsman top edges, ball flies high over Coote's head at slip, wicketkeeper watches as Coote sprints (yes, sprints) back 10 yards, dives full length as ball comes over his shoulder, and clings on to ball inches from the ground. Coote rises from ground with glasses bent, covered in mud, beaming his full Cheshire Cat grin.

Was that OK, Trevor?

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18th July

Woodford Wells 3rd XI - 210 all out
Brentwood 3rd XI - 190-9
Match Drawn

Report by Peter Bainbridge

Scorecard

Brentwood failed to turn a strong position into a victory for the third successive week and paid the price by slipping two positions in the table to fourth from bottom.

The post-match consensus from the bowlers was that the batsmen had wasted a golden opportunity of taking 18 points and the batsmen were not heard to argue too much.

Bowling out Woodford Wells for 210 was deemed a a good effort by all at the tea break. With the boundary seeming shorter than ever, and the dampish pitch causing few concerns for batsmen, Brentwood believed they were in the ascendancy, a view reinforced when their reply reached 90 for one.

It was a sorry story from thereon in as set batsmen got themselves out and Brentwood were left clinging on for a draw.

Woodford Wells had won the toss (naturally) and elected to bat on a greenish pitch, full of confidence after smashing over 300 on their previous home outing.

Peter Bainbridge induced an early edge that was taken by the sprightly Barry Brooks and James Welham bowled a tight spell from the top end. With Bainbridge's old body struggling to get up the hill, Micky Payne's equally old body was introduced and thus started a superb 19-over spell that made a mockery of his relegation earlier this season to the fifths.

Woodford Wells captain Ali Bull has shown a liking for the Brentwood attack in the past but had never come across a bowler of Payne's wiles. After being frustrated by nagging accuracy, Bull charged down the wicket, missed and was smartly stumped by Brooks.

Payne teased all the batsmen as he plugged away for much of the afternoon. When he eventually took his cap he had the superb figures of four for 69 from 19 overs.

Ben Sach bowled two lively spells, taking two big wickets for 18 runs from eight overs, Bainbridge claimed four for 52 from 12 and only some lusty lower-order hitting took Woodford Wells past the 200-mark before the innings finished after 51.1 overs.

The Brentwood fielding had been good, with the standard set by Brooks, who claimed two stumpings and two catches.

The departure of Shane Surujbally was an early blow for the Brentwood reply but Sach joined Peter Morgan and the pair made untroubled progress at a decent rate, with Sach in particular looking capable of the one big score Brentwood needed.

Sach pulled a couple of sixes over the ultra-short downhill boundary and had helped take the score past 90 before the rot set in. The seemingly immoveable Morgan (32) played on against Woodford Wells' answer to Payne, and Sach (48) was trapped lbw.

The final 20 overs started with Brentwood on a still healthy 110 for three but Jack Anderson chipped up a catch to cover, James Welham slogged one up in the air and when Nigel Bacon (34) missed one that swung in at him, Brentwood were struggling. The lower order were unable to match Woodford Wells' late flurry and it was left to the level-headed James Bowler to block out the last over and save the draw.

Brentwood are at home to South Woodford on Saturday with an overdue victory ever more important.

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25th July

South Woodford 3rd XI - 180 all out
Brentwood 3rd XI - 147 all out
South Woodford won by 33 runs

Report by Peter Bainbridge

Scorecard

This was yet another match in which Brentwood wasted a strong position, this time slumping to defeat against a South Woodford side who coped better with a poor wicket on the back pitch.

The thunderstorm of Friday night meant Trevor Coote gleefully inserted the visitors after a rare successful toss but the decision was hardly vindicated as the score somehow crawled to 40 before Sam Ali bagged the first wicket, lbw.

South Woodford slumped to 75 for five thanks to four catches in the gully by Mark Baldock off Peter Bainbridge, who had started to find dangerous lift from the road end.

It looked like South Woodford might easily have been rolled over for less than 120 at this stage, but their lower middle order dug in well and punished the all-too frequent loose balls.

By the time Ali claimed the final wicket in the 52nd over, South Woodford had posted a competitive total. Ali bowled well in two spells, claiming two victims, and Bainbridge finished with six for 66 from 23 overs.

Whatever effect the application of the roller had on the pitch at the tea interval, it failed to iron out the doubts in the minds of the Brentwood batsmen.

Greg Holmes shouldered arms and was bowled first ball, swiftly followed by Jack Anderson and Nigel Bacon, to make the score 0 for three. When Barry Brooks and Andy Taker both fell to swinging full-length deliveries, it was six for five, all the wickets going to left-armer Lancaster, who was sporting a black eye from an earlier encounter with a Bainbridge bouncer.

Thankfully, Ali showed more durability than his colleagues and despite being hit on the back of the head early on by a snorting lifter, led the rally, supported by Coote. Ali, who belatedly called for a helmet, dispensed with his usual smash-bang approach and played a highly skilled, watchful innings. The sixth-wicket pair had put on more than 50 when Coote hit a full toss straight to a fielder.

Neil Webb then played the foil to Ali who started to open his shoulders and give Brentwood the sniff of an unlikely victory. With the score 134 for seven with 12 of the last 20 overs remaining, South Woodford were starting to bicker but the return of Lancaster (aka 'Bomber', naturally) proved decisive. Ali was on 80 (which on this pitch should have counted double for Fantasy League purposes) when a leg-side half volley hit his boot and rolled on to his stumps.

Webb scooped a 'popper' up to the wicketkeeper and when last-man Micky Payne was bowled, the match had ended with six of the final 20 overs remaining. Lancaster finished with seven for 37.

Brentwood, now third from bottom, travel to Gidea Park on Saturday.

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8th August

Fives & Heronians 3rd XI - 111 all out
Brentwood 3rd XI - 112-1
Brentwood won by 9 wickets

Report by Peter Bainbridge

Scorecard

Put up the bunting. The threes scored a long overdue victory which went a long way to securing another season of premier division cricket.

Trevor Coote's men remain third from bottom but the gap between themselves and second-from-bottom Fives now stands at 27 points with four matches to go. No room for complacency just yet, but there was a definite air of relief as Coote passed round his captain's jug in the bar afterwards.

The win could hardly have been more emphatic and was 18-0 in terms of points. Despite losing the toss (again), Brentwood were on top from early doors in muggy conditions which aided swing.

James Boon and James Welham provided a searching examination of the Fives openers and the former, bowling with good pace, picked up the first wicket when clean bowling the awkward Rob Allum cheaply.

Ben Sach and Peter Bainbridge maintained the probing line of attack and after becalming dangerous No3 batsman Jackson, were rewarded when in his befuddlement he popped a return catch to Sach to make the score 41 for two.

Fives had reached only 54 for two at the 26-over drinks break and an attempt at acceleration was dented when James Boon took an exceptional catch off his brother Chris's leg spin. A full toss seemed set for the boundary until James dived and at full stretch clung on to the ball inches from the ground.

With Bainbridge's swing snuffing out scoring ambitions at one end, Chris Boon made inroads at the other with some impressive spin and might have caused further havoc had several strong lbw appeals gone his way.

As it was, Boon took four wickets and, with Bainbridge gaining belated success with three, Fives subsided to 91 for nine. Only a last-wicket spree took the score into three figures before Welham returned to wrap up the innings in the 52nd over.

All the bowlers excelled - James Boon (6-2-16-1), Welham (6-1-13-1), Bainbridge (20-8-32-3), Sach (5-0-10-1) and Chris Boon (15-2-33-4).

The Brentwood batting line-up has shown a propensity to creak this season but there were few worries against a moderate attack, although Shane Surujbally had an early life when dropped at gully.

He punished the error with some typically lusty blows, twice depositing the ball over the long-on boundary before falling for 42 with the score at 70.

Andy Taker, fresh from his 80 against Gidea Park in an abandoned match the previous week, had been happy to play second fiddle and now took the dominant role in partnership with Ben Sach.

Both looked in fine form as they dealt comfortably with the Fives bowling and the winning runs came in the 26th over. Taker was on 47 and Sach 10.

Brentwood visit bottom club Hainault and Clayhill on Saturday. It would take only a couple of late-season wins for Brentwood to finish in a healthy mid-table position

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22nd August

Chelmsford 3rd XI - 204-5
Brentwood 3rd XI - 154 all out
Chelmsford won by 50 runs

Report by Peter Bainbridge

Scorecard

An understrength Brentwood side were no match for champions-elect Chelmsford at the OCG.

The pre-match chat between the teams was on the effect of the V Festival on respective selections. It quickly became obvious that Brentwood as a club were just too damn hip and trendy for their own good. While Brentwood CC sweaters and caps would have been plentiful at Hylands Park, hardly any Chelmsford players had taken the festival option.

The effect on this third XI fixture was that Chelmsford had very few worries on the way to a 20-point win that virtually sealed the title. Fortunately for Brentwood, a narrow victory at Hainault the previous week had virtually guaranteed safety from relegation.

Brentwood won the toss and boldly opted to field first on a baking day with a fast outfield, thinking 240 would be a par score. The bowlers managed to keep Chelmsford in check for much of the innings until a late flurry of runs from the fifth-wicket pair took the score past 200 in the 44th over.

Chelmsford surprisingly opted to declare, happy with the eight batting points and being aware of the potential lack of strength in the Brentwood batting line-up.

Brentwood highlights in the field centred on Tony Prior, back in the side by popular demand after chewing up fourth XI batting line-ups this season. After running out a Chelmsford opener with a smart turn and throw, he then caught the number three, whose firm clip off his legs thudded into Prior's chest at midwicket before nestling in his hands.

Debutant Dougie Maxwell bowled a tidy spell without any luck, while the slightly older Peter Bainbridge toiled through 19 overs to take four for 67.

The Brentwood reply was never in a healthy state as key men Shane Surujbally, Andy Taker, Ben Holmes and Mark Baldock all fell cheaply.

Taker injected a note of controversy when, as square-leg umpire, he no-balled one of Chelmsford's spinners for an illegal action, and there were pleasing cameos from James Welham (33), Prior (25) and Maxwell (12), but on the whole it was an entirely forgettable batting effort. The end came in the third of the final 20 overs.

Brentwood visit second-placed Shenfield on Saturday.

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29th August

Shenfield 3rd XI - 212-9
Brentwood 3rd XI - 121 all out
Shenfield won by 91 runs

Report by Peter Bainbridge

Scorecard

The shadows are lengthening, the swallows are thinking of heading south and Brentwood 3rd XI are seemingly ready to put their whites into winter storage.

After a thorough thrashing by champions Chelmsford the previous week, Brentwood were soundly beaten by second-placed Shenfield.

The infuriating aspect of the loss was that Brentwood had been on top for much of the first half of the game, only for a last-wicket stand and then pitiful batting to undermine any chance.

Shenfield opted to bat on a dry wicket at a sun-baked Courage Playing Fields and set off like a bush fire as agricultural opener Simmons fortuitously hoiked his way to 37 before being caught off Peter Bainbridge with the score at 49 in only the sixth over.

Proper cricket was then able to start and Shenfield were becalmed by a tight attack despite the lightning-fast outfield and tiny boundaries. Further wickets for Ben Sach and Bainbridge saw Shenfield arrive at drinks at 107 for three before a controversial bowling change by Trevor Coote proved inspirational. Bainbridge was removed after a spell of only 16 overs and replaced by 14-year-old Dougie Maxwell. The young leg-spinner wasted no time in making his mark, serving up a delicious long hop with his third ball which opposing captain Gary Sapsford slapped to mid-off where Sam Ali plucked a catch out of the air with one hand.

Not content with that, Maxwell immediately followed up with a vicious full toss which the well-set Castell lobbed up to Ben Holmes at short leg.

Unfortunately, Maxwell made the classic mistake of bowling his potential hat-trick delivery on a good line and length, provoking a stout forward defensive from the quivering batsman.

With Tim Barbone* bowling an impressive spell from the other end, Shenfield disintegrated to 159 for nine before the last pair stopped the rot by adding 50 runs with no little style.

Despite the flurry, when the innings closed after 52 overs it seemed Shenfield were still well short of a commanding total. Barbone (three for 26 from 15 overs) was the pick of the bowlers, closely followed by Maxwell (three for 31 from six).

An in-depth description of the outstanding tea (plentiful, varied and high-quality, particularly the flapjacks) would be much better reading than that of the Brentwood batting effort.

Sach was the exception to the general incompetence as he showed composure and style after coming in on Barbone's first-over demise. It didn't look like anything would dislodge him until he was hit high on the back leg by the gargantuan Joe Hedden and adjudged lbw.

The innings folded from that point and Brentwood were dismissed halfway through the final 20 overs. Flapjacks were little consolation.

*References on the PlayCricket scorecard to David Barbone starring in the Brentwood bowling attack are erroneous. The Barbone who produced such an outstanding spell was definitely Tim. David was present, but clutching a glass of red on the boundary edge. However, now that Tim is dropping down the XIs, there are rumours that David is considering resuming his career so that father and son can again play together.

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