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15th May
Brentwood 4th XI - 177-0
Fives & Heronians 4th XI - 176-8
Brentwood won by 10 wickets
Report by Neil Webb
Brentwood Fourth XI's defence of their Premier League title got off to an impressive start on Saturday with an emphatic ten wicket thrashing of Fives & Heronians at the Old County Ground.
With the previous week's opening day fixtures all being washed out, both sides were keen to get off to a good start and, having won the toss and electing to field, it was the home side who started the strongest. However, despite good opening spells from Brentwood bowlers Sivapalan and Myers, the fielders were clearly still in winter mode as two catches were spilt in the opening overs. It eventually took a splendid piece of fielding from veteran Ash Patel to make the breakthrough as he fired in a pinpoint throw from third man to run out Franklin. With Fives struggling to get the run rate over two an over, Payne (2-27) and Patel were introduced into the attack and the former was rewarded for a nagging line and length when he picked up the wicket of McKay. Greene and Ambridge then staged something of a recovery and increased the run rate with some lusty blows before both were dismissed by Webb (2-43).
Following their departure, the visitors really struggled to find the boundary as Brentwood's bowlers turned the screw, well supported by some keen fielding. Such was the home side's dominance that, at the end of the 52nd over when a declaration would normally be made, Fives had only totalled 142 and were forced to sacrifice their bonus points and bat on to try and eat up some time. On the hottest day of the year so far, Brentwood's bowlers and fielders stuck to their task admirably despite their weariness and continued to pick up wickets at regular intervals. Newcomer Ventura (1-19) and Nick Childs (1-16) both bowled tight spells, eventually forcing the declaration after 63 overs with the score on 176, leaving Brentwood approximately 40 overs to chase the runs.
In reply and in stark contrast to the first innings, Brentwood's openers Roger Mahadeo and Nick Childs immediately found runs easy to come by as the visitor's bowlers struggled with their direction. Indeed, Fives conceded a total of 43 extras including 31 wides in the Brentwood innings. However, nothing should detract from the superb shot selection of the batsmen as both passed their half centuries inside the first 25 overs of the innings. Having done so, they then ruthlessly closed the match out without offering a single chance as Brentwood coasted home with 14 overs and all 10 wickets to spare, Mahadeo finishing on 68 not out and Childs unbeaten on 66.
Such an emphatic victory against one of the stronger clubs in the league will have set a very high standard for other teams to reach this year. If Brentwood continue to perform like this, they will undoubtedly prove just as hard to catch as they were in their title-winning season last year.
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22nd May
Brentwood 4th XI - 232-8 declared
Gidea Park & Romford 4th XI - 210-6
Match Drawn
Report by Neil Webb
Brentwood Fourths travelled to Gallows Corner on Saturday to play Gidea Park and Romford, traditionally one of the stronger clubs in the Essex League. GPR won the toss and invited Brentwood to bat first on a wicket that looked green and suggested there might be some assistance for the bowlers early in proceedings.
Brentwood's young openers however, quickly disproved this theory as they put on 72 for the first wicket inside the first 14 overs, Neil Wicks contributing 39 and Nick Childs 48, before the former lost concentration momentarily and offered a simple chance to gully. Childs and his father, David then came together and added 48 for the third wicket taking the score to 126 before Nick was bowled by Jordan Tolan who, having not played for 3 years, bowled 7 wides in his first over but then rediscovered his form and subsequently proved to be the best bowler in the match. Childs Senior however, continued to accumulate runs in characteristic fashion, well supported down the order by Alex Priddle (26), and took the visitors beyond 200 allowing the declaration to be made after 49 overs. Tolan finished with figures of 5-72 with Childs unbeaten on 69 as Brentwood finished on 232-8.
In reply, GPR got off to a similarly confident start as their openers reached 78 for the first wicket despite impressive opening spells from Myers (1-46) and Battu (1-26). Brentwood skipper Neil Webb eventually broke the partnership by taking a sharp return catch to dismiss Ron Montgomery for 22 although Mark Tarr continued to score freely at the other end. In the end, GPR needed 115 from the last 20 overs with 8 wickets in hand and were favourites to win but Brentwood managed to pick up wickets at important times to slow the run rate down. When Myers dismissed Kershaw for 40 and Coote (2-39) removed Patel, GPR's hopes of a successful run chase disappeared and it was left to the tail to close up and save the draw, the home side finishing 23 runs short on 210-6.
This weekend, Brentwood host Upminster at the Old County Ground.
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29th May
Brentwood 4th XI - 201-8 declared
Upminster 4th XI - 90-7
Match Drawn
Report by Neil Webb
Having had two games abandoned and lost the other, Upminster arrived at the Old County Ground to play Premier League champions Brentwood on Saturday knowing they had their work cut out. Brentwood, on the other hand, having been frustrated by Romford and Gidea Park the previous week, were keen to get back to winning ways although due to poor availability throughout the club were fielding an extremely weakened side. Upminster captain Duncan Bray won the toss and invited his hosts to bat first.
The home side got off to a very good start with openers Neil Webb and Rajiv Sesodia posting 60 for the first wicket before Webb chased a wide one and was caught behind for 31. Sesodia however, continued to play a wide range of attacking shots in typically classy style despite this being his first innings of the season. He was well supported towards the end by Robin Coote who contributed an aggressive 31. However, wickets continued to fall at regular intervals at the other end and the Upminster over rate dropped meaning that their 52 overs weren't completed until quarter to five. Hammond proved to be the pick of the bowlers with 4-41 with Sesodia out near the end for 80, allowing Brentwood to declare on 201-8.
In response, Upminster's reply never really got out of the starting blocks thanks to good opening spells from Owen Myers (1-4 from 6 overs) and Webb (3-21 from 14). Once Webb had claimed the wickets of opening batsmen Bray and Jones the visitors never looked capable of chasing their target and it was left to the home side to try and bowl them out to win the game. Only Pedrick (30) showed any ambition whilst the Upminster batsmen continued to frustrate the bowlers. To their credit, Brentwood's young attack continued to plug away but the wickets didn't quite fall often enough. Upminster eventually received 45 overs back from the home side and yet could only muster 90-7, the game petering out to a draw.
Whilst Brentwood will feel frustrated at their opposition's defensive tactics, they need to learn how to bowl a side out, especially when fielding second. However, with such an under-strength team, they can take heart from being so dominant.
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5th June
Brentwood 4th XI - 174 all out
Hutton 4th XI - 187 all out
Hutton won by 13 runs
Report by Neil Webb
Hutton emerged victorious at the Old County Ground on Saturday in an excellent game of cricket that was a credit to both clubs. From the moment Brentwood won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first, the game tipped one way and then the other in a hard fought fixture between the two sides that are likely to be amongst the title contenders come the end of the season.
For the second week running, Brentwood had been robbed of the heart of their team through poor availability in higher teams. Consequently, the team that took the field was a young and inexperienced side, yet all of those that had been called upon emerged with enormous credit from the game.
Hutton began strongly with Nick Watson (78) and Ian McDougall (65) seeing off the new ball relatively comfortably. Once the shine had gone from the ball, both openers began to accumulate runs with Watson being particularly harsh on anything short or wide. In the absence of any wickets from the seamers, Brentwood captain Neil Webb turned to his spin options in Damian Muncaster (3-33) and 16 year old Mark Palmer (2-64). Both bowled superbly and, even when not taking wickets, hurried through their overs so quickly that a different kind of pressure was placed upon the Hutton batsmen. This pressure told in the end when Watson skied a catch to Webb off of Palmer's bowling giving the young off-spinner his first wicket for the fourth team.
Brentwood then continued to exert more pressure as the overs ticked by and regular wickets began to fall. The bowlers were well backed up by some superb fielding from the home side, typified by Jamie Battu's diving catch to dismiss Hammond and give Palmer his second wicket as well as two sharp run outs. Webb (3-41) then reintroduced himself to the attack with ten overs to go and managed to restrict the visitors to just 30 runs in that time, eventually bowling Hutton out for 187. The innings was ended by Battu, having an inspired day in the field, when he held two spectacular one handed catches in successive balls to dismiss Hutton's last two batsmen.
By rattling through their overs so quickly, Brentwood were batting again before 4.30 meaning they were likely to receive substantially more overs in return. It looked unlikely that they would need them however, as Dwight Johnson struck his first ball for 6 setting the tone for a destructive innings which put the home side firmly in the driving seat. At the other end, Alex Priddle was accumulating in a more sedate but no less effective manner. Johnson (56) was eventually undone by a high full toss from Gilder (4-36) with which he holed out to backward square leg, the first of four batsmen to be dismissed in that fashion. Muncaster kept up the scoring rate with a brisk 18, but when he and Priddle both fell in quick succession, Brentwood's frontline batsmen had all been dismissed with more than 50 runs still required for victory. Neil Webb (22) then patiently attempted to bring his side back into a winning position but, although the young batsmen at the other end acquitted themselves admirably, Hutton's tails were now up and wickets began to tumble. With Webb in danger of running out of partners, he knew the game needed to be won quickly but, when he mimicked those before him by holing out to another Gilder full toss, Brentwood's hopes of victory disappeared. Two balls later, Kishore (2-50) bowled Palmer and the points belonged to Hutton.
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12th June
Brentwood 4th XI - 294-2 declared
South Woodford 4th XI - 268-9
Match Drawn
Report by Neil Webb
Fifteen year old Nick Childs set a new club record individual score for Brentwood on Saturday with a phenomenal innings of 200 not out, the first time a Brentwood cricketer has scored a double century in an Essex League game in the club's 123 year history.
Double centuries are few and far between in Test Match cricket, but to score one in an afternoon game is unheard of. For a fifteen-year-old colt to achieve it is truly an astonishing feat.
The day started with the home side winning the toss and choosing to field first, a decision they may have rued as Childs and Brentwood skipper Neil Webb immediately began to score runs freely. Webb soon realised, however, that he was merely the supporting cast in this theatre as his young partner found the middle of the bat with metronomic consistency. Childs' half-century came up as early as the 10th over with his captain now merely dealing in singles in order to farm the strike to his partner as much as possible. His next 50 came even quicker as he past his previous lifetime best of 96 with another classic straight drive to bring up his century.
When Webb was unfortunate to be given out LBW via an inside edge, the opening pair had posted a stand of 142, Webb's contribution being just 21. Three balls later Alex Priddle followed for a duck having watched the run glut with his pads on for the past hour. Childs was then joined by Damian Muncaster and set about his next landmark of 150 with his partner once again happy to take a back seat. Childs showed an array of shots all around the ground as he continued to punish the South Woodford bowlers, playing with an impressively straight bat and generally scoring at least one boundary every over. Meanwhile Muncaster (47 not out) was also accumulating runs with ease, interspersing singles to give the strike to Childs with occasional boundaries. With his skipper threatening a declaration, Childs incredibly accelerated having past 150 despite his exhaustion, picking the gaps beautifully and taking advantage of the weary fielders. He eventually reached the mammoth milestone of 200 with a combination of his first 6 over long on, and a flurry of singles. The declaration was then made immediately with the score on a formidable 294-2 and only 42 overs elapsed.
Having chased the ball to the boundary for a couple of hours, South Woodford's batsmen were demoralised and exhausted and therefore in theory unlikely to score as freely as their opposition. Brentwood capitalised on this as opening bowlers Webb (1-55) and Joe Surtees (1-57) clean bowled both openers with swinging deliveries. Butt (44) and Hussain (121) then put together an aggressive partnership and, despite some very close shouts for LBW's and run outs, threatened to put the home side into an unlikely winning position. The introduction of 14-year-old Jamie Battu then swung the game back in Brentwood's favour as he produced an impressive 5 over spell of 3-10 and, with Haran Sivapalan (2-31) bowling fast from the other end, the visitors looked as though they might bowl out their hosts. However, it wasn't to be as the final pair managed to see out the final couple of overs and cling on for a draw.
Whilst Brentwood's players will be disappointed not to have secured a deserved victory, this day will long be remembered for Childs' phenomenal innings. For anyone to concentrate for so long on such a hot afternoon and keep scoring at such a rate was impressive. For a fifteen year old to do so was quite incredible.
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19th June
Walthamstow 4th XI - 221 all out
Brentwood 4th XI - 167-7
Match Drawn
Report by Neil Webb
Brentwood Fourths' run of games without a win stretched to six on Saturday with another draw away to Walthamstow. Winning the toss for only the second time this year, Brentwood skipper Neil Webb invited the home side to bat first on a wicket that traditionally favours sides bowling first.
This indeed proved to be the case as 15 year old opening bowler Joe Surtees immediately found a superb length and removed Scoulding and Khan in the same over during an opening spell of 2-4 from 5 overs. His enforced removal from the attack merely allowed Haran Sivapalan to pick up exactly he had left off as he too got the ball in exactly the right area and proved too quick for Oram and Gymer as both were bowled in Sivapalan's first over. This reduced the home side to 21-4 and placed the visitors firmly in the driving seat.
Walthamstow now needed to rebuild and Shazzad and Noverre patiently added 70 for the fifth wicket, riding their luck at times as edges evaded the fielders but Shazzad in particular also latching onto any loose bowling. Another bowling change then paid dividends for Brentwood as Iain Smith dismissed Noverre with his first ball of the season. At 91-5 Walthamstow were in danger of being bowled out cheaply, but Shazzad continued and, supported by skipper Mike Guest, reached his century. Sivapalan was then reintroduced to the attack and again took two wickets in his first over followed by another three overs later to give him his first five-wicket haul for the fourth team and finish with figures of 5-49. However, some lusty blows from Robertson with a quick-fire 39 at the end of the innings gave the home side an imposing total of 221 before finally being bowled out in the 49th over.
Brentwood's reply got off to the worst possible start with in-form Roger Mahadeo dismissed for a duck from the third ball of the innings. Tom Childs and Rajiv Sesodia followed shortly after leaving the visitors struggling on 42-3. This brought Alex Priddle and Neil Webb together with the two adding 113 for the 4th wicket in a patient stand that took Brentwood from danger of defeat into a safe position. However, in doing so, the pair had fallen behind the required run-rate and, despite accelerating in the last hour, were unable to do so sufficiently to threaten their opponents total. In the end, both perished attempting to earn their side further bonus points, Priddle falling just short of a deserved half century with 47 and Webb (52) going one better with his first 50 of the season. The match ended with a flurry of wickets for Walthamstow and Brentwood finishing on 167-7.
This result drops Brentwood down to 6th in the table and if they are to have any ambition of defending their Premier League crown they must rediscover the winning habit very soon. This week they entertain last year's runners up, Wanstead.
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26th June
Brentwood 4th XI - 175 all out
Wanstead 4th XI - 229 all out
Wanstead won by 54 runs
Report by Neil Webb
Brentwood's run of games without a win stretched to seven on Saturday as they were comfortably beaten at home by Wanstead. On a wet afternoon and with a gloomy forecast for the rest of the day, there was some serious doubt as to whether the game would be completed when the two captains tossed up. This may have influenced Wanstead skipper Terry Rising's decision to bat first.
The visitors began strongly as, despite Brentwood's opening bowlers Neil Webb and Owen Myers extracting prodigious seam movement from the green wicket, Ilyas (30) and Goslin (34) compiled an opening stand of 71. The introduction of Mike Hornsby (3-88) brought about the all-important breakthrough and when he also bowled Sheikh for a duck, Brentwood were back in the game at 100-3. However, Karan Singh (71) continued to play an array of powerful shots at the other end and, when he was joined by Akbar (39), the two put together Wanstead's most important partnership. Brentwood fought back strongly however as two sharp run outs, one by Iain Smith and one by Webb and two wickets from off-spinner Damian Muncaster (2-21) removed the middle order. Webb (3-34) then reintroduced himself to the attack and cleaned up the tail as the visitors were eventually dismissed for 229, a daunting total on a wet wicket but one that, at one stage, could have been much worse.
Even so, Brentwood had got through their overs relatively quickly and with their strongest batting line up of the season so far, will have fancied the run-chase. Rising elected to open the bowling himself and this decision paid dividends as his slow off-spin claimed three quick wickets reducing the home side to 32-3. However, Dwight Johnson (40) and Dave Childs (32) continued to score in typically belligerent fashion and took Brentwood to 90 without any further loss and into a potential match winning position. When both were dismissed in consecutive overs though, Brentwood's top order had been removed with still 140 runs required although plenty of time still remained. Webb (15) and Muncaster (28) then consolidated and put on 54 for the 6th wicket meaning that Brentwood only required 90 from the last 20 overs. Wickets continued to fall though as Ilyas (4-42) picked up victims at crucial times and, despite some resistance from Myers (17) and Joe Surtees, the home team were eventually dismissed for 175, still some way short of their target.
This defeat means Brentwood are losing touch with the league leaders and they only have themselves to blame as too many batsmen got themselves out when set for big scores. This weekend they host Ardleigh Green and will be determined to rediscover the winning habit.
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10th July
Brentwood 4th XI - 233-7 declared
Gidea Park & Romford 4th XI - 125 all out
Brentwood won by 108 runs
Report by Neil Webb
Brentwood Fourth's two month win drought came to an end at the Old County Ground on Saturday with a comprehensive win over second in the league Gidea Park and Romford. Fielding a side weakened by summer holidays, and on a damp wicket that appeared would offer assistance to bowlers early in the day, the home side entered the game with a certain degree of trepidation, a feeling heightened by losing the toss and being asked to bat first.
Brentwood openers Chris Boon and Dwight Johnson soon set about eradicating this however as they immediately sought to dominate the bowlers. Boon, making his debut for the 4th team, looked comfortable at the crease and rotated the strike with ease. Meanwhile at the other end, Johnson was immediately into his stride and found the boundary from just his fourth ball as he latched onto anything short with immense power. The pair put on 72 for the first wicket before Boon was unfortunate to get a high full toss that on another day may have been called a no-ball and chipped it to square leg. Johnson however, continued unabated as he brought up his half century from only 37 balls with another powerful shot through the leg side and continued to dominate the Gidea Park bowlers. Number three, Alex Priddle also began accumulating, albeit somewhat more sedately than his partner and the pair added nearly a hundred for the second wicket. Johnson's second fifty came up even quicker than his first as he reached a fantastic century from only 71 deliveries including 15 fours and 4 colossal sixes. When he was out in the 32nd over, he had contributed 130 to the team total of 172.
After Johnson's departure, it was left to the Brentwood middle order to nurse the score past 200 and set an intimidating total for their opposition to chase. Priddle continued to accumulate on his way to an important 40 and, supported by Owen Myers (17 not out) got the score to 233-7 before the declaration was made.
Although Johnson's innings suggested otherwise, the wicket was still very slow and difficult to score runs on. Brentwood skipper Neil Webb (3-45) took the new ball himself and immediately found assistance both in the air and off the pitch as he claimed the vital wicket of Ron Montgomery, scorer of 90 in his two previous innings, caught at the wicket. Two overs later, Tom Montgomery fell in similar fashion and when visiting skipper Les Hall also nicked an outswinger, Webb and 'keeper Priddle had combined to dismiss the top three with only 30 runs on the board. The champagne moment of the game followed when left-armer McCallum (1-37), opening from the Merrymeade end, dropped one short to Kershaw who top edged a pull shot towards fine leg. Fourteen-year-old Jamie Battu set after it from square leg and, running backwards, dived full length to cling onto a truly sensational one handed catch, the likes of which wouldn't be bettered in a Test Match.
The visitors were now firmly on the back foot, although Jordan Tolan (49) continued to counter attack with some big shots. When Joe Surtees (2-17) replaced his captain and took Tolan's off stump however, GPR's hopes of victory disappeared and it was now a question of whether Brentwood could bowl them out to claim the twenty points. Damian Muncaster (3-16) accounted for Roberts and Bray (courtesy of another Battu diving catch) whilst Chris Boon's leg spin trapped Tarr LBW. Then, when John Windebank's rearguard action was ended by a diving catch by McCallum from a Muncaster long hop, Brentwood were victorious.
Although Johnson's innings was undoubtedly the most important individual contribution in the match, this victory was a result of a collective team spirit to which every player in the team contributed. Brentwood should take heart from such a good win and will seek to repeat it when they visit Upminster this Saturday.
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17th July
Brentwood 4th XI - 202-9 declared
Upminster 4th XI - 151-6
Match Drawn
Report by Neil Webb
Brentwood's frustrating season continued on Saturday as, for the third time this year, the rain prevented a positive result as they visited Coopers School to play Upminster. On a green and unpredictable wicket, Brentwood skipper Neil Webb lost his fifth toss on the trot and wasn't surprised to be asked to bat first.
The visitors got off to a very good start however, as in-form Dwight Johnson raced to a typically destructive half-century inside the first half an hour of the match, taking 34 off of two Hammond overs to end the young opening bowlers spell. From the other end, however, Upminster captain Pete Williams immediately found a line and length that was to prove difficult to get away throughout the innings. With the wicket popping and offering assistance to all bowlers able to find the right length, Johnson latched onto anything short and capitalised fully. When he was finally dismissed by Williams for 67, Mark Donkin picked up where he had left off as he too made a rapid 50 to help post a challenging target. Following Donkin's dismissal, it was left to Damian Muncaster (31 not out) and the lower order to nurse the score beyond 200 and maximum batting points, something that was achieved in the final over of the innings. Williams bowled throughout the innings to return excellent figures of 6 for 52 from 26 overs.
Brentwood's total was a good one on a wicket that wasn't improving and was likely to pose a serious challenge to their hosts as long as their bowlers got it in the right areas. The seamers struggled to do this however, as each were guilty of bowling too many bad balls. Upminster were able to seize on the many short or over pitched deliveries and were in a winning position at the start of the last hour as they required just 74 from 20 overs. The introduction of Brentwood's spinners however changed the game completely as Muncaster (1-32) and Boon (2-7) dried up the runs and took instant wickets. The game was poised perfectly with both teams fancying their chances of victory when the heavens opened and a half-hour downpour ended the match with Upminster on 151-6.
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24th July
Hutton 4th XI - 179-8 declared
Brentwood 4th XI - 181-3
Brentwood won by 7 wickets
Report by Neil Webb
After going two months without a win earlier in the season, Brentwood made it two in three games on Saturday with a comprehensive victory over local rivals Hutton. For once afforded a sunny afternoon, Brentwood skipper Neil Webb won only his third toss of the season and chose to field first on a wicket that looked flat and ideal for run scoring.
With a splattering of cloud cover overhead, the new ball swung early in proceedings but neither Webb nor Ewan McCallum could land the ball in the right areas often enough to consistently trouble Hutton openers Lynch (25) and Swanton. Run scoring was proving equally difficult however as the run rate never got much above three an over, although the score accumulated to 56 before the fall of the first wicket. Once the shine had gone from the new ball, Webb (1-27) removed himself from the attack and brought off-spinner Damian Muncaster into the attack, a move that was to prove vital in Brentwood’s containment of their hosts. Muncaster proved difficult to get away throughout the innings as he embarked on a mammoth spell of 21 overs and, although wickets still proved elusive, pressure was mounting on the home side to increase their scoring rate as the overs ticked by. Another bowling change then brought about the breakthrough as Iain Smith (1-13) replaced McCallum and Lynch played on in his first over although, at the other end, Swanton continued to accumulate patiently.
The second half of the innings brought about something of an acceleration although, as their batsmen were forced to take more risks, Hutton also began to lose wickets. Good spells from Surtees (1-22) and Myers (0-32) kept them tied down and Muncaster in particular exerted pressure reaping his reward as he accounted for three of the middle order. When Swanton, having passed his fifty in the 43rd over, eventually holed out to Childs at long off, Hutton were in danger of falling short of their target of 175. Some lusty blows towards the end from Turnbull (46) however, got the home side to 179-8 before the declaration was made. Muncaster was undoubtedly the star performer with the ball taking 4-50 from his 21 overs.
In reply, Brentwood rarely looked troubled in chasing down their target as they kept up a good run rate throughout. Hutton skipper Swanton took the old ball initially, taking the pace off the bowling as he opened up with spinners. This strategy didn’t have the desired result however, as Brentwood openers Roger Mahadeo (46) and Neil Wicks (25) scored freely in an opening partnership of 69. When Mahadeo chipped a long hop from young leg spinner Gilder to cover point, Tom Childs (19) picked up exactly where he had left off. The new ball was taken in the 24th over as Hutton desperately tried to take wickets and this worked initially as two wickets fell with the score on 95. Any momentum this gave to the fielding side was immediately eradicated however, as Dave Childs and Alex Priddle came together in an untroubled and unbroken partnership of 86. With both enjoying the ball coming onto the bat from Hutton’s seamers, boundaries flowed with Childs hitting 10 fours in his unbeaten 45 and Priddle six in his 37 that saw their side home with 13 overs to spare.
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31st July
Brentwood 4th XI - 193-3
South Woodford 4th XI - 192 all out
Brentwood won by 7 wickets
Report by Neil Webb
Brentwood Fourths recorded back-to-back wins for the first time this season on Saturday as they comprehensively defeated relegation threatened South Woodford at the Old County Ground.
With the sun beating down and the wicket looking flat and hard, Brentwood won the toss and invited their visitors to bat first and immediately made the breakthrough as left arm opening bowler Ewan McCallum (1-28) bowled Abraham in the second over of the match. Gill and Redham then posted 55 for the second wicket as they saw off the new ball before the introduction of spinners Damian Muncaster (2-40) and Mike Hornsby (5-60) turned the match in Brentwood's favour. When Redham holed out to long off, Laen-Gay (24) continued to support Gill as the visitors reached 98-2 at the halfway point of the innings.
The drinks break and a pep-talk from the skipper then spurred the home side into life as Hornsby claimed two wickets in the first over after the break. When Muncaster picked up his six balls later, South Woodford were struggling on 108-5 and as Gill (55) attempted to accelerate the run rate, he too was bowled by another arm ball from Brentwood's wily off-spinner leaving the batting side on 117-6. Mir (27) and Jaweed (40) then came together in a 60 run partnership for the 7th wicket but the partnership was broken by a fiery spell from Joe Surtees (1-29) when he clean bowled Jaweed. The innings was then wrapped up as slow left armer Hornsby completed his 5-wicket haul and Quaishi was run out, meaning a target of 193 for victory had been set.
In reply, Brentwood made a solid start, not for the first time this season based around a typically belligerent innings from Dwight Johnson. Although Mahadeo fell cheaply, Johnson was joined by 15-year-old Neil Wicks and the pair put on 91 for the second wicket as they batted the home side into a winning position. Johnson's fifty came up off of only 41 balls (only his third fastest of the season) as he continued to milk the bowling. When Wicks was bowled by Abraham for an excellent 33, in-form Alex Priddle continued to offer untroubled support to Johnson as the home side moved closer to their target. At the start of the last twenty overs, Brentwood needed only 41 for victory but Johnson made sure that very few of these overs were required as he recorded his second century of the year from only 73 balls. The ball after passing this milestone, he was bowled attempting an ambitious slog-sweep but the job was all but done, just leaving Priddle (27 not out) and Muncaster (6 not out) to reach the target with 14 overs to spare.
Brentwood have hit their best form of the season at just the right time as they make a late bid for an unlikely title challenge. Now just 10 points behind the leaders, they play second placed Walthamstow this weekend determined to keep their winning run going and keep up the pressure on those above them.
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7th August
Brentwood 4th XI - 198 all out
Walthamstow 4th XI - 200-5
Walthamstow won by 5 wickets
Report by Damian Muncaster
On the hottest afternoon of the season so far, Walthamstow 4th XI poured cold water on Brentwood's title ambitions with a comprehensive 5 wicket victory.
After recent good form Brentwood entered the game high on expectation but were left deflated and low on aspiration after an error strewn performance.
After being inserted Brentwood's hopes of posting an imposing total were dealt an early blow as the talented Neil Wicks was caught behind for a duck. Tom Childs (21) and the enigmatic Roger Mahadeo (19) then both made solid starts but were unable to capitalise and were dismissed after disappointing shot selection i.e. the wrong one. The talented Mahadeo will have been especially dismayed after looking well set on his welcome return from retirement. The inform Alex Priddle could then have been accused of over confidence and was dismissed by the lively Ali without troubling the scorers and Brentwood were now in trouble at 60-4.
Damian Muncaster and Dave Childs then set about repairing the damage and looked to be getting on top of the 'Stow bowlers. A fifty partnership was posted with Childs at one point dispatching Ali for 4 consecutive boundaries with clinical efficiency causing much consternation amongst the visiting fielders. Childs was scoring freely and the only maiden insight was fielding at fine leg.
But not for long as the Walthamstow captain introduced himself and his daughter into the attack with great effect. With his first ball, Guest's vicious turning, bouncing delivery accounted for the hapless Muncaster for 17 and then, looking well set on 49, Childs was deceived by the flight of the captain's daughter's delivery and holed out to long-on.
Brentwood were now back in trouble at 130-6 and with the tail now exposed hopes of posting a competitive total were low. Fortunately the tail wagged as James Apicella in his first game for 2 years hit a vital 30 runs and was well supported by the unkempt Ewan McCallum (14) and a fluent 18 from Jamie Battu.
Brentwood posted 198 and buoyed by the performance of the tail and the variable bounce of the pitch felt confident of taking the points. Unfortunately this was far from the case. Brentwood's bowlers were unable to apply any pressure to the 'Stow batsmen as any good deliveries were interspersed with too many boundary balls and careless extras. Apicella though did take a wicket with his first ball to offer Brentwood a glimmer of hope.
With McCallum taking two further wickets, victory remained a remote possibility but Oram and Alexander were belligerent in their hitting and although half chances did not fall Brentwood's way, on reflection the undisciplined bowling display did not deserve reward. Highlighted by the fact that Brentwood were unable to defend the twenty runs required from the last two overs. With the 14 year old 'Stow number 7 smashing a straight six to win the game.
Brentwood now have to pick themselves off the floor after the most demoralising of defeats as they travel to Wanstead next week.
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14th August
Wanstead 4th XI - 233 all out
Brentwood 4th XI - 228-8
Match Drawn
Report by Neil Webb
A much improved performance saw Brentwood fall just 6 runs short of victory in a compelling run chase.
After choosing to bat first Wanstead got off to the worst possible start, as the returning captain Neil Webb sent the Wanstead opener back to pavilion in the very first over of the day. Wanstead though rebuilt and with positive stroke play aided by a lightening outfield they started to gain the initiative. Although Webb was extracting consistent and at times prodigious movement, luck was deserting him and it wasn't until the introduction of Iain Smith in place of the Australia bound Ewan McCallum, whose focus seemed more on meeting Skippy than what his skipper had to say, that Brentwood were able to exert any sustained pressure on the Wanstead batsmen.
Eventually this pressure told as the first of four run-outs saw the end of the talkative opener Shaikh, attempting a 3rd to Damian Muncaster which was never an option. Smith was finding his rhythm and was producing his best spell of the season whilst Webb kept plugging away.
Webb picked up his second wicket and as Wanstead looked to accelerate wickets tumbled. Owen Myers entered the fray with maximum effect taking two wickets, with Muncaster claiming a scalp and McCallum swooping like a ginger hawk and throwing down the stumps Brentwood had restricted Wanstead to 233. It was game on.
Wicks and Mahadeo made a solid if unspectacular start as Wanstead opening bowlers offered little in the way of easy runs, but the as the early thrust was countered, Wicks and the Mahadeo set about making inroads into the Wanstead total. Both looked fluent, and after matching each other virtually shot for shot the hundred partnership was posted with Wicks shading it in the style stakes. The openers were pacing the innings perfectly, never letting the run rate exceed 6 an over and with wickets in hand the foundations were laid..
Mahadeo was the first to reach fifty and the burgeoning reputation of Wicks was further enhanced as he reached the half century shortly after. But as the openers kept apace of the run rate well into the final 20 overs disaster struck as they both departed within the space 4 balls, Mahadeo for 76 and Wicks 66. Nerves set in as the tide started to turn towards the Wanstead bowlers as Childs departed cheaply. Alex Priddle and Rohan Sivapalan then started to regain momentum as Priddle played sensibly to support the flamboyant hitting of Sivalphan, victory was now a definite possibility as the game had turned back into Brentwood's favour.
But with yet another twist Brentwood pressed the panic button, Priddle was bowled, Muncaster run out and then crucially Sivapalan dismissed. It left Brentwood relying on Webb and Myers to carve out 14 runs from the last two overs in the gathering gloom. Frustratingly it wasn't to be but Brentwood can take heart from the display and the results of their title rivals. The title chase is still on.....just.
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21st August
Ardleigh Green 4th XI - 88 all out
Brentwood 4th XI - 92-4
Brentwood won by 6 wickets
Report by Neil Webb
Brentwood kept their hopes of a second successive Championship just about alive with a comprehensive defeat of Ardleigh Green on Saturday. However, with Walthamstow and Gidea Park and Romford both also victorious, Brentwood are now relying on them dropping points in their final two games in order to have any chance of overtaking them.
With a lot of rain having fallen during the week, the wicket at the Ilford Wanderers ground was green and slow, so visiting skipper Neil Webb was pleased to win the toss and invite his hosts to bat first. Ardleigh Green, however, made an untroubled start with openers Bayfield and Lock reaching 39 without any scares before the match was turned on its head by a sensational one handed catch by Chris Dann at gully that sent 2nd team regular Dave Lock on his way for 16. Haran Sivapalan (2-25), celebrating achieving 5 A's in his A levels, followed this up by bowling Surry in his next over as Dann's brilliance turned out to be a catalyst for a first class Brentwood fielding performance.
Once spin-twins Damian Muncaster and 13-year-old 4th team debutant Harri Jones had been introduced to the attack, Ardleigh Green's runs completely dried up and wickets fell at regular intervals. Jones in particular extracted prodigious movement from the grassy track whilst Muncaster applied pressure from the other end. Bayfield managed to reach 34 before he was the fifth wicket to fall, well caught at the wicket by Priddle off Muncaster's bowling with the score on 63. Jones then claimed his second wicket with Matt Lloyd taking a good catch on the long-on boundary, his third of the innings. After that, Brentwood's two off-spinners cleaned up the tail, eventually bowling the home side out for 88, Jones finishing a very mature spell with impressive figures of 3-21 from 16 overs and Muncaster claiming his first ever five-wicket haul for Brentwood by taking 5-13 from 13 overs.
Brentwood's reply was never likely to be particularly fluent on a wicket still favouring the bowlers. Tony Dann fell early and Priddle followed soon after leaving the score on 12-2. Chris Dann played some powerful shots, despatching the bad ball to the boundary and added 36 for the 4th wicket with Dave Childs. When Dann (33) attempted one big shot too many and was well caught at long on by Pruscino off the bowling of Andy Cook, Webb joined Childs (36 not out) at the wicket and the pair saw their side to victory without any further scares.
Brentwood must now win their final two games and hope that the teams above them drop points in theirs. This weekend, Brentwood travel to already relegated Fives and Heronians.
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28th August
Brentwood 4th XI - 182-7 declared
Fives & Heronians 4th XI - 183-6
Fives & Heronians won by 4 wickets
Report by Neil Webb
Brentwood 4th XI's defence of their Premier League title ended on Saturday as they were beaten by already relegated Fives and Heronians.
Heavy rain during the preceding week meant that the usually hard and fast track at Old Chigwellians was damp and slow when the two captains made the toss. Which way the coin landed was always likely to prove crucial as batting first on such a wicket was going to be a definite disadvantage and Brentwood skipper Neil Webb's heart sank when he realised he'd called incorrectly and he was invited to bat.
Sure enough, batting proved troublesome as the new ball seamed and swung and opening batsmen Roger Mahadeo (15) and Chris Boon (29) played and missed on several occasions. Had the home team held onto their catches, the middle order would've been exposed far sooner that it was. Instead, by the time Alex Priddle (32) and Dave Childs came together, the shine had gone from the ball although run scoring was still far from fluent. A vital partnership of 68 took Brentwood to a respectable score as Childs in particular seized on anything loose as he compiled a near faultless 52 whilst Priddle accumulated in typically dogged style at the other end. Both were dismissed in the closing overs as the run rate was accelerated and a couple of good boundaries from Eaton (22 not out) at the end saw Brentwood post a total of 182, a good effort on such a sticky wicket.
The wicket was still slightly damp when the home side began their reply and accurate bowling would still have made batting troublesome. Although opening bowlers Webb (1-38) and Owen Myers (1-39) passed the outside edge frequently, when they did find the edge the ball fell frustratingly safe. Franklin (26) and Harbord (38) made a solid start until the former cut an Iain Smith (1-32) delivery to Sivapalan at backward point. The same fielder then ran out Harbord with an excellent throw from deep third man but Foley (48) still managed to keep up with the required run rate. With Brentwood having to win to keep alive any hope of winning the league, they dug deep and found another gear as they took three quick wickets, mainly through Boon's leg spin (2-37) to leave the home side wobbling on 151-6. Some clean hitting from Connell (24) then took the game, and the Championship, away as Fives edged home with 6 balls to spare.
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4th September
Brentwood 4th XI - 143-4
Hainault & Clayhall 4th XI - 137 all out
Brentwood won by 6 wickets
Report by Neil Webb
Brentwood Fourth team's season finished on a high on Saturday with a convincing win over Hainault & Clayhall as the visitors were consigned to relegation.
On a hot and sunny afternoon, Brentwood won the toss and invited Hainault to bat first. The home team started proceedings with a new look opening bowling attack as Deni Mistry (0-12 from 7 overs) and Haran Sivapalan (1-32) extracted good movement with the new ball. Sivapalan made the early breakthrough when he beat Oliver for pace and bowled him via an inside edge. Barber (55) and Graham (19) then managed to negotiate the next 12 overs without any real problems until former 4th team stalwart Robin Coote, plucked from the obscurity of the 5th team where he has plied his trade all season, was introduced. In his very first over he trapped Graham LBW and then followed it up in his next over with the wickets of Naqvi and Mahandru in consecutive balls. Needing as many batting bonus points as possible to have any chance of staying up, Hainault's young batsmen then sought to regroup as Barber was joined by Shinn (18) and the run rate was increased by some lusty blows down the ground. When Coote had Shinn neatly caught at the wicket by Priddle and bowled Scott the very next ball, however, the visitor's were in trouble again as Coote completed his 5-wicket haul and finished with figures of 5-12 from 8 overs. Brentwood skipper Neil Webb (3-21) then cleaned up the tail with some filthy off-spin as Hainault were dismissed for 137.
The visitor's score was never likely to be enough as Brentwood's reply began strongly with Owen Myers (22) and Dave Childs (37) promoted up the order and scoring freely from the very first over. Hainault's tactic of taking the old ball didn't work as Childs in particular seized on any width and forced the new ball to be taken after only 5 overs. When both were bowled, by Oliver and Scott respectively, Tom Childs (28 not out) carried on where they had left off and took the score to within reach of the target. When Mahadeo and Webb fell cheaply, Hainault's hopes of at least picking up enough bonus points to avoid the drop were raised but Eaton (28 not out) bludgeoned his side to victory, winning the game in style with a straight six.
Whilst on paper a fourth place finish is disappointing for a Brentwood side that started the season confident of defending their Premier League crown, there have been many positives from the season. A number of the club's many talented youngsters have been given the opportunity to shine and progressed onto higher teams, meaning the future of the club is bright. In 2005 these colts, and those that are next in line, will be a year older and a year stronger, meaning Brentwood will be well positioned to regain the title next season.
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