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8th May
Brentwood 2nd XI - 194-7
Woodford Wells 2nd XI - 200-5
Woodford Wells won by 5 wickets
Report by Neil Jones
Scorecard
So there it was; the long awaited start of the Cricket season. Brentwood 2nd XI woke up to ashen skies and regular morning showers, ideal Cricket weather. Paul Larner's captaincy stint began with a major problem, how the hell do we untangle the boundary rope after those pesky first teamers put it away so well?
Match warm up abandoned, rope untangled, toss lost, let's have a bat on a wet one. Got to love cricket season!
The returning talent of Ryan Chadda and promotion of Elliot Skinner provided the new opening partnership, however, conditions proved difficult and Brentwood were soon in familiar territory, 20-2.
The precocious talent of Saunders and experience of Vice captain Neil Jones steadied the ship, taking the score past 100 before Jones used up his lives and was caught and bowled for 36. Saunders mixed excellent shot play with horrendous running between the wickets, ending up with a classy looking 65 before nicking off with 10 overs to go.
Brentwood's target of 200 was only made possible due to a few lusty blows from Paul Degg, who cleared the trees and the club house in successive overs. 200 would have been achieved had it not been for the strange decision to attempt to reverse sweep the final delivery of the innings, needless to say, dot ball in the book.
A beautiful tea and a warm brew didn't do anything for the enthusiasm of the fielders entering the wintry conditions. Retired skipper Chris Boon searched everyone's bag for a second jumper that would fit him, although he stopped short of borrowing Lloyd Renvoize's new knitted sleeveless, available exclusively in Fenton Sports from next week.
Degg and Renvoize each opened up with feisty bursts, Degg showing a consistent line and length that bodes well for the season. His early pressure was rewarded with a Dave Skinner assisted LBW. Unfortunately the pair offered a scoring ball each over as Brentwood failed to make the early breakthrough tell, the left-handed Majeed (64) being particularly aggressive with anything loose.
Enter captain Larner and his decisions. "Let's bring Maxwell on," vice captain Jones "What about Boony?" Larner, "No Maxwell will get one." On cue, delivery number 3, Majeed skies Maxwell to deep square. Captain Larner underneath it, job done you may think. Larner slips, ball dropped, Majeed goes on to play match winning innings. Unlucky skip.
The spin twins of Graeme Walker and Boon latterly provided the squeeze as Wells stuttered to the victory total, eventually reaching the target with 3 over's spare.
Larner was inconsolable at the end stating, "A valiant attempt from the troops, although we failed to capitalize on our strong position in the first innings. I also apologise for many things, including my horrendous cricket jumper and my dropped catch."
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15th May
Brentwood 2nd XI - 272 all out
Chingford 2nd XI - 195-9
Match Drawn
Report by Neil Jones
Scorecard
Sometimes in life things happen that make you sit back and say "wow". In the same week that Jon Walford fell in love, Paul Larner played one of the innings of his life.
Mid-week the twos looked to have secured a strong bowling unit with the rumoured return of Joe Fryd. Unfortunately the long awaited come back suffered the same fate as Fryd's knee and was put on ice due to injury. Consequently it was an inexperienced attack that travelled to Chingford.
Chris Boon showed commitment beyond the cause turning up to cricket at the expense of his daughter's birthday party, but was flummoxed when he discovered his wife had taken his whites out of his bag to teach him a lesson.
Larner lost the toss and sent the lambs to the slaughter, 17-3 before we knew it with Tom Wolfendale, Elliot Skinner and Harry Levy all back in the shed. The buoyant home team were on the offensive, but were soon to be silenced by the stroke play of Captain Fantastic.
The usually aggressive, yet surprisingly eloquent, Neil Jones (55) played a subdued, supporting role to the main event that was Larner (127*). The pair turned the game on its head in a matter of overs as the Chingford bowlers were hit to all parts of the ground. Larner raced past fifty in 10 overs, mixing his trademark cut shot with an array of shots all around the wicket. The pace hardly slowed as he approached three figures, stopping only to thank the mid-on fielder who dropped the dolly with Larner stranded on 95. One life given, he continued apace, reaching the milestone with a classy drive. A truly outstanding innings.
By the time he had finished, he had seen Paul Degg, Boon and Ryan Barker crash the ball around also, leaving the home team set the daunting task of chasing 272.
Chingford's outfield and Brentwood's lack of senior bowlers meant that 272 was distinctly achievable. Step up Mr Paul Degg. Often criticised for his hot headed approach to bowling, this season sees a new version of the same model. Quick, aggressive and yet controlled, disciplined bowling. He tore into the opposition top order, removing danger men, Alston and O'Sullivan cheaply.
Jones, doing his best Paul Collingwood impression, nicked a wicket at the other end after replacing the erratic Lloyd Renvoize. Everything Larner touched tuned to gold, Billy Hull struck in his second over and the precocious Levy removed two in one over with his much improved off-spin.
All that stood between Brentwood and victory was a solid innings from Patel (85) and a distinct lack of concentration in the field. The bowling pack was shuffled at regular intervals, trying to force the issue, but when two catches went down in the same over with 8 wickets down and 7 overs left, Brentwood knew they had just dropped the 20 point gift Chingford's tail were offering.
The home team survived a late burst from Degg, but a promising fight from a young Brentwood team was all overshadowed by the captains earlier heroics. After the game Larner said, "Being dropped when vice captain last year gave me the kick up the backside I needed. I realised I needed more than one scoring shot so I worked hard in the winter and it seems to have paid dividends."
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5th June
Wanstead 2nd XI - 238-8
Brentwood 2nd XI - 199 all out
Wanstead won by 39 runs
Report by Neil Jones
Scorecard
A day of malfunctions at the Old County Ground brought about a glorious defeat for the highly gifted yet hugely inconsistent 2nd XI. Devon Loch, John Terry's penalty, Newcastle United's Keegan centred capitulation; nothing comes close to this defeat.
Captain Paul Larner was able to select his strongest 11 of the season, being afforded the luxury of a seam attack that many 1st XI's would cherish, including Paul Degg, Dave Balroop and the often immature Gulfraz Muwas.
A scorching day greeted the players and when Wanstead won the toss they had no hesitation in deciding to bat first on a belting, if incorrect, choice of track.
First malfunction about to occur. Friday evening phone call:
Larner to Jones: "Who should 'keep, Me, Saunders or Barker?"
Jones to Larner: "Go for yourself."
Imagine my disgust as we entered the arena with Andre the Giant aka Chris 'Karl Kricken' Boon padded up and practicing his side step and take.
The Sultans of Swing, Degg and Balroop opened up with decent spells which were much more deserving than the wicket-less scoreboard showed. Saunders and Muwas were introduced and the latter eventually made the breakthrough removing Cade (37) with a sharp catch at slip by Larner.
Malfunction number 2. Neil Jones introduced into the attack to allow Muwas to change ends. Three deliveries later a pulled intercostal and Jones left the field unable to continue what would have been a match winning spell. The only positive was the Phoenix from the flames appearance of substitute fielder Paul "keen as mustard" Webb.
The rest of the innings was a blur. Harry Levy nipped 3 quick wickets whilst still leaking runs. Muwas settled into a rhythm bowling 18 overs in a tight spell ending with figures of 3-66. Wanstead were at one point looking at a score close to 300. It was to the bowler's credit that they finished 238-8, and the visitors were indebted to opener Palmer who showed desirable patience to bat through for an unbeaten 117.
Andre, having spent most of the last season doing nothing, was now asked to follow up his surprisingly solid 'keeping with an opening stint with the bat which he performed admirably racing towards 50 with Brentwood looking comfortable and confident in the run chase.
The form batsmen in the club, Ronnie Saunders, joined his former skipper and outscored him as the pair reached the 6pm drinks interval at 115-1. Pole position you might say. What followed resembled a pub cricket team attempting to bat against Warne and Vettori as the young spin attack of Ellis-Grewal and Nijjer ripped the heart out of the batting line up.
Saunders and Boon fell within 2 over's of the restart. Barker and Degg both fell in what resembled a competition to see how quickly we can get caught on the boundary, Leaving Larner and Muwas to steady the ship. 10 overs still left 60 needed. No problem.
Malfunction number 3 ready and waiting. Larner ran past a spinning delivery, Boon Jnr invented a new shot and was caught and Balroop joined the game "Lets try and hit the ball to Shenfield," failing badly as his stumps were clattered with him looking at the 18.53 BA flight to Spain.
All this led to malfunction number 4 - the defining moment.
Jones, resembling Monty Python's Black Knight in his mobility, bravely entered the fray at 196-9 to join young starlet of the future Levy. Jones grimaced and prodded at one end, unable to execute his trademark cover drive, with Levy looking solid as a rock at the other end. Safety in-sight.
As the last over approached, 198 runs were on the board. Jones managed to hobble through for 1 to deep cover. The nervous crowd discussed the possible outcomes from the final 4 deliveries. Safe bet for a draw, best bet an extra point for 200, worst case scenario a disastrous run out with the injured party unable to run a suicidal single.
The rest as they say is history. Brentwood 199 all out. Levy 2 meters short, Jones off the pitch before the bails had been taken, Webby sat saying how he predicted all this and Larner head in hands wondering how one of the strongest 2nd teams in Brentwood's history contrived to lose this game.
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26th June
South Woodford 2nd XI - 233 all out
Brentwood 2nd XI - 234-5
Brentwood won by 5 wickets
Report by Neil Jones
Scorecard
The unpredictable nature of the second team's season continued a pace. Following ultimate meltdown the previous week, somehow Paul Larner scraped together a ridiculously strong selection of men in order to drag the team from the rock bottom they had reached.
Out went Skinner, Barker and Renvoize, in came Saunders, Welham, Chadda and the long awaited comeback tour of Joe "available for functions" Fryd.
It wasn't long before Fryd got going, clean bowling the Opening batsman who had refused to believe that facing huge in swing required a shot to be played. Middle stump castled, and Fryd broke into his favourite Moonwalk mixed with Robot celebration. A welcome return for the oh so talented bowler
At the other end Paul Degg was again showing uncharacteristic intelligence; mixing decent pace with consistent line and length. It was a watershed moment for the Geography Teacher as he realised this style of attack reaped rewards. He and Fryd reduced South Woodford to 8-3.
All was going swimmingly until Jones attempted a Shadow catch at slip, and allowed the batsmen to add another 68 to his total. A self imposed stint at third man worked however, as Chadda took a scintillating catch in the gully next over.
New boy Hussain struggled to find his rhythm but the introduction of Welham to the attack brought was immediately rewarded with a chest trap and control then catch by wicket keeper for the day Paul "Belly's Bitch" Larner.
South Woodford batted sensibly from then on, reaching 233 in 51.3 over's. Fryd and Degg returned to bowl the death over's. Fryd's figures of 1-53 didn't really tell the true story, whilst Degg's 5-43 probably didn't either.
Tea was demolished as Chris Boon told stories of his mid week brush with law, Larner slagged Cooty for not putting his tables out and Fryd began inventing new words, concocting Latin definitions to make it sound more plausible. Nobody fell for it.
The batting line up dripped with talent. Saunders realised Opening was for him as he set about chasing down the total. He made light work of the knock as he played sumptuous shots all around the ground on his way to 83. Boony was still baffled by Fryda's tea time exploits as he walked off in the third over.
Chadda (27) showed what we had missed since game 1 with a solid display, mirrored by Boon Jnr (25). When Jones (31*) strode to the crease the asking rate was a run a ball for the last 14 overs. After 2 more over's of playing a missing the rate had spiralled horribly out of control.
Enter Paul "must impress my girlfriend" Degg. A quick fire 34, including a monstrous six onto the thirds pitch, reduced the rate and dug his mate out of the ditch he had dug himself.
Tom Wolfendale catwalked out the crease at number 7, now having strung 6 consecutive games together for the club. He made short work of the 4 runs remaining. Then catwalked off to the Chris Boon Snr acclamation of "best looking player at the club." Fryda was not happy.
Captain Larner was cock a hoop with the performance. "I was always confident the other lads would do it. Since my 127* at Chingford, I haven't scored a run and hoped that by hiding in the score box for the innings I wouldn't have to bat." True leadership.
20 points in the bag. Nobody available next week.
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3rd July
Brentwood 2nd XI - 262-5
Chelmsford 2nd XI - 263-5
Chelmsford won by 5 wickets
Report by Chris Boon Jnr
Scorecard
This week saw Brentwood IIs travel to Chelmer Park notably without the presence of a few senior members of the side. Despite this, the team oozed talent with a mixture of experience and youth. Furthermore this game saw Cameron Mirza, Brentwood's newest overseas player from America make his debut for the club.
Brentwood lost the toss and were put into bat on what looked a extremely green track for the time of year. On inspecting the wicket, Muwaz questioned whether Chelmsford were over doing their bit to save the environment with this 'going green' campaign.
Despite this Brentwood got off to a solid start with Saunders and new boy Mirza, with Saunders in particular looking in good form playing solid strokes through the offside. However a loose shot saw Saunders chip the ball up in the air and he headed back to the hut having made 29.
Chadha joined Mirza at the crease and the pair continued to build upon Brentwood's good start, putting away anything loose from Chelmsford's spin attack, however Chadha fell for 44 after hitting a longhop down deep backward square's throat.
Boon Jnr joined Mirza, who was now well set at the crease and looked to play around the debutant. The pair accelerated Brentwood's rate combining good running with fluent stroke play to set up a potentially large total. However, Boon Jnr was caught cheaply for 45 and then shortly after Mirza's dream start to his Brentwood career was spoilt as he was run out through a good piece of fielding for 95. Wolfendale (21*) helped steer Brentwood to a decent total of 262.
The tea interval allowed the team to get better acquainted with their new star batsmen. Thanks to the 'intelligence' of Saunders, it was quickly established that Americans do in fact eat pizza. Well played Ronnie, well played.
Brentwood began Chelmsford's innings with express intensity and purpose, with Renvoize and Muwaz taking early wickets to reduce the home side to 30-2. From here Brentwood looked to be in the driving seat, with the Chelmsford batsmen seemingly trying to give their wickets away, chipping the majority of their shots up in the air, it seemed certain the rest would fall like dominos.
Unfortunately nothing seemed to be going to hand, and runs began to flow with ease as Chelmsford opener Bailey (98) got into his stride. Even the support of Degg and his new girlfriend who turned up despite having prior commitments earlier in the day didn't change the team's luck, nice to see him taking his vice captain duties seriously. Though Brentwood picked up late wickets, through a Wolfendale run out and a sharp catch by captain Larner, they were unable to stem the inevitable and Chelmsford cruised home to victory with 5 overs to spare.
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