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Brentwood Colts gaining strength year on year
As a sign of the strength of the Colts sections more and more Brentwood players are playing representative cricket at either a County or District level. Here is a report from the U11 contingent - more to follow for the other age groups in the next round of matches.
The first Essex County U11 match of the season at Halstead against Suffolk featured James Berry (previously Essex U10) and Matthew Bell. Essex batted first and Berry batting number 4 came in late in the innings and scored quickly, all around the wicket giving no chances. The innings ended at 174 for 2 off 35 overs with James not out on 48, his top score for Essex.
Strong Essex opening bowling saw Suffolk on the back foot scoring slowly but maintaining their wickets intact. Bell came on first change on his Essex debut, and helped maintain the pressure, until there was a run out and a wicket bowled during his spell. Berry later also took a wicket as Suffolk failed to chase down the runs ending at 134 for 8.
The first Central District match of the season featured five boys from Brentwood. Held at Billericay on a wet day in May, only the excellent drainage allowed the match to go ahead. Moisture in the pitch made the game difficult for batting.
Captain Bell (21 - top score) opened with Ed Abbott (18) and they shared an opening stand of 51. A key feature of the stand was the aggressive running between the wickets to put fielders under pressure. Thereafter, wickets fell regularly and the innings crept just over 100 for 8 off the rain reduced 30 overs.
The South District innings got off to a slow start against some terrific fielding. Opening the bowling, Julian Whetstone bowled a fine spell supported by Edward Abbott bowling first change. The pressure told with wickets beginning to fall, including one each for Aaron Doyle and Bell. The highlight of the day came from a young Luke Brailey making his district debut despite being an Under 9. He destroyed the lower order with a hat trick! This repeated the feat of James Coleman (now an Under 13) who had taken a hat trick in the previous U11 district match last summer.
The South District total never threatened to get close and came to a close in the mid fifties. Afterwards Luke was presented with the match ball, a great reminder of the day.
With Tom Wingrove to play in later U11 District matches this summer, this makes seven boys selected for U11 representative honours. Given Luke (U9), Tom (U10) and Julian (U10) are playing above their age there is a good chance that representation will continue for future years. The number of Brentwood Colts playing representative cricket is at a record number this year and this is testament to the hard work the committee and coaches have put into to implementing the Colts Development plan which aims to give our Colts the best possible grounding.
Matthew Bell and James Berry
BCC Colts Representatives
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