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6th May
Cockfosters XI - 91 all out
Brentwood XI - 92-2
Brentwood won by 8 wickets
Report by Richard Whitehall
Scorecard
Following Saturday's reversal to Gidea Park, Brentwood had a point to prove against Cockfosters in the Evening Standard Trophy on Sunday.
Jonathan Walford again lost the toss and once more Brentwood were put into the field. However the similarities with the previous day's performance ended there as opening bowlers Joe Fryd and Richard Whitehall immediately looked too good for the visitors. Fryd in particular ripped into the Hertfordshire League side's batting taking 3 wickets in the first 5 overs. Whitehall was bowling aggressively and short from the other end, whistling balls past the batsmen's head and forcing them to back away from the stumps. Fryd continued to take wickets at the other end as the only way Cockfosters could get runs was by edging the ball in the air over the in-field. Gulfraz Muwas executed a fine direct hit run out and I an Belchamber took the last 3 wickets to end the visitor's innings on 91. Fryd was the standout bowler finishing with figures of 10 overs 6-24.
Cockfosters showed they were not giving up the chance of victory as they took 2 quick wickets in the first 2 overs to leave Brentwood reeling at 0-2. Walford and Chris Sains were the dismissed batsmen. Aaron West and Richard Walford began the rescue effort batting watchfully on a wicket that increasingly had inconsistent bounce. As they got their eye-in they then expanded their attacking shots and boundaries began to flow. Both batsmen showed patience to wait for the bad ball and as their partnership moved past 50 Cockfoster's hopes of victory faded. The two batted through until victory was completed with West finishing on 43 not out and Walford 38 not out.
Brentwood played with superb professionalism and had responded well to their poor performance on Saturday. In the next round of the cup they travel to Beaconsfield of the Home Counties Premier League.
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17th June
Brentwood XI - 242-6
Ardleigh Green XI - 173 all out
Brentwood won by 69 runs
Report by Richard Whitehall
Scorecard
Brentwood progressed to the last 32 of the National Knockout cup on Sunday with a resounding victory over local rivals Ardleigh Green.
Brentwood batted first and got off to a quick start during the 15 over fielding restrictions thanks to aggressive batting from Stuart Harper-Horne. He scored 25 off 26 balls including a number of boundaries. Captain Jonathan Walford kept up the momentum when he departed and was helped by Aaron West who was also in free scoring mode. Both batsmen were dismissed shortly after scoring their half-centuries. With such a solid platform Brentwood eyed a large score and Damian Brandy obliged with a quick fire 50 in only 36 balls including 4 sixes and with Richard Whitehall hitting 2 sixes and a four in the last over Brentwood reached the imposing total of 242 off their 45 overs.
Ardleigh Green got off to a quick start with Royston Smith and Adandan Krishnan taking advantage of both the restrictions and some wayward bowling from Whitehall. After 15 overs they had reached 85. Wickets then began to fall as first Krishnan and then Smith fell victim to Dave Balroop. This seemed to kick-start Brentwood who then took regular wickets. Only Ian Russell offered any resistance, but when he was caught by Balroop off the bowling of Ian Belchamber the home side’s chances of victory looked slim. The last few wickets fell quickly enabling Brentwood to progress in to the area final.
They meet Cambridge Granta of the East Anglian Premier League on July 1st.
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1st July
Cambridge Granta XI - 194 all out
Brentwood XI - 184 all out
Cambridge Granta won by 10 runs
Report by Ian Belchamber
Scorecard
Brentwood just missed out on a place in the last 16 of the National Knockout Cockspur Cup as they were beaten by East Anglian Premier League team Cambridge Granta
Cambridge won the important toss of the coin, on a wicket that appeared as though it would be harder to bat on as time progressed. Whitehall and Brandy bowled impressively with the new ball and started to cause problems for the Cambridge batsman. Brandy picked up two wickets in his first spell and Whitehall one, Jon Walford then took the brave decision to introduce spin during the fielding restrictions, but it proved to be a very good decision as Graeme Walker bowled with great control, conceding only 21 off his seven overs.
It was the introduction of Ian Belchamber into the attack that started to move the game away from Brentwood as Park's various sweeps and reverse sweeps made it near impossible to set a field to. Belchamber's four overs went for 36 runs.
It was at this point that Gulfraz Muwas was introduced and his impressive spell accounted for the wicket of Park and gave the impotus back to Brentwood. 15 year old off spinner Harry Jones bowling from the other end at a crucial time also bowled with great control and deservedly picked up a couple of wickets.
Belchamber was re-introduced to the attack almost immediately and his second spell was far more prosperous, with figures of 3-15 off five overs, Ben Cocklin taking two impressive catches and Whitehall grabbed spectacular diving effort. The re-introduction of Whitehall to the attack finished the innings off with a well disguised slower ball.
Brentwood's innings got off to a promising start with Cocklin and Walford going nicely. Walford then lobbed one up to short mid-wicket off a delivery that went through the top. Brandy followed shortly afterwards as he played on to a short delivery.
Brentwood then put an impressive partnership together between Cocklin and the in-form Phil Ayres. With the Essex side well set on 90-2 and 25 overs left to go, Cocklin finally fell for 41.
Ayres was now looking for support from the other end but struggled to find any as several batsmen fell to the tight bowling and one of the best fielding displays seen at club level.
It was then left to number eleven Jones to provide the support and he showed the way for several of his more experienced teammates as he ticked the score along nicely, giving Ayres plenty of strike.
Going into the last over, with ten required, Brentwood were very much still in the hunt. Jones managed to get a thick outside edge which appeared as though it may be running to the third man boundary only for a full length dive from the keeper to claim the catch.
While Brentwood were understandably disappointed to fall so short, it is the furthest the club have gone in the competition, and should give the side hope for next years competition.
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