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8th May
Brentwood 3rd XI - 200-7
Woodford Wells 3rd XI - 177-4
Match Drawn
Report by Peter Bainbridge
Scorecard
The north wind did blow, and although there wasn't any snow, there were several cases of suspected hypothermia on the back pitch at the OCG. Welcome to the English summer.
Considering the atrocious conditions, Brentwood and Woodford Wells did well to fashion a competitive match which ended in the gloaming at 8pm. The visitors might have felt hard done to by claiming six points to Brentwood's nine, and surely regretted deciding to bat second in a match always liable to be affected by the weather.
The highlights of Brentwood's performance were impressive debuts by Billy Hull and Sam Dawes, who both batted with precocious freedom before adding some spice to the bowling attack.
Trevor Coote lost the toss as usual and after a brief rain delay, David Smith and Sonny Willis opened the innings. Against a slightly ragged attack, they had few scares and had pushed the score to 40 before the rain that had never really disappeared became too heavy and forced the players off for a 40-minute delay.
Wells tightened up on the resumption and had their first success when Smith hoiked a full toss to mid-on and was out for 25. A batsman getting a start but not pressing on to a big score was the tale of the top order as Willis (17), Andy Taker (21), Steve Taylor (29) and Ryan Barker (28) came and went.
The only outright failure was Coote, who was run out for two after being called for a sharp single by new-boy Taylor.
The innings was in danger of tailing off until Dawes and Hull gave it a breath of life. From aiming to reach 175, Brentwood were suddenly accelerated up to 200 as the youngsters declined to show any respect for an attack that had been throttling the scoring rate. Dawes was particularly dismissive of anything remotely leg side and with his strong bottom hand raced to 35 not out. Hull was unbeaten on 26 when the declaration came in the 50th over.
A damp and cold group of Brentwood players attacked their teas with relish before facing up to the task of going outside and trying to move their freezing limbs enough to bowl out Wells in a little over an hour and 20 overs.
Opposing opener Joe Johnson set off like a house on fire (which if literally true would at least have helped keep everyone warm) and enjoyed a couple of early lives as cold hands spilled straightforward catches. Neil Webb managed to snare Johnson's partner but the final 20 overs started with Wells at 85 for one and in with a sniff of victory.
When Johnson hit the first three balls of Peter Bainbridge's second spell for boundaries, Brentwood started to feel a little nervous, especially when Johnson was then dropped for a fourth time.
However, the batsman's luck ran out when he was well caught behind the stumps by Barker off Bainbridge. With the light fading fast, the new batsmen were unable to maintain the rate and with Sam Ali collecting a couple of late wickets, they finished on 177 for four from 39 overs.
A reasonable start to the season by the threes, who were pleasantly surprised by how well the back pitch played and that two shower heads pumped out water that neither scalded nor froze. On Saturday they travel to face Premier Division new boys West Essex.
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15th May
Brentwood 3rd XI - 188-8
West Essex 3rd XI - 164 all out
Brentwood won by 23 runs
Report by Sonny Willis
Scorecard
Brentwood 3XI travelled to West Essex on Saturday in need of a win to kick start their season after a draw in the previous game against Woodford Wells.
On a personal note, many of you have questioned my commitment to this season and Saturday truly confirmed why I should be playing Golf instead!!!
On a grey overcast morning Captain Coote went for the toss and continued his 100% losing record.
(In a conversation at tea, Coote confirmed that he may change his strategy of calling edge and go with a more conventional heads or tails! In future weeks)
Willis and Smith were sent in again and were promptly greeted by the demons in the pitch and an accurate West Essex opening attack. West Essex penetrated a good area all innings which was a good ploy as from the same spot the ball would either jump and pin the batsmen or roll straight along the floor.
Brentwood openers got of a good start going a 5 an over with Smith scoring the majority. Smith, as he does so many times was looking a million dollars, playing some eye catching cover drives which Kiewswetter would be proud of. However Smith got a good one that moved away and was caught behind for 25.
That brought Taker to the crease who made a breezy, shot a ball 27 before missing a straight one. Willis was by now in his stride and at 100/1 Brentwood was targeting 230+. After crashing 9 boundaries in his 47 Willis went back to a short pitch ball which rolled along the ground to clean him up leaving him to think... Is this what I missed the Saturday stapleford for!
Brentwood's middle order came and went far too quickly and it was down to Captain Coote and young - Star Dougie Maxwell to see out Brentwood's 52 overs. Coote played an impressive and in the context of the game, potentially match winning innings of 27* to see Brentwood to 187/8 of 52
Defending a low score on such a small ground didn't look easy and Brentwood needed someone to replicate Jan's 5 for 49 performance for West Essex. Brentwood have been averaging 10 drops per game and 25 runs due to fielding errors which led to Willis offering short odds on West Essex knocking this off at a cantor, However captain Coote had other ideas and with some inspired fielding positions, bowling changes and churp, his side was fighting back!
Young Jamie Dawes struck first, knocking over West's Captain and Dawes backed by Lingala bowled an impressive opening spell.
West Essex were swinging hard and were well ahead of run rate. Coote knew they were cruising and brought on young Dougie Maxwell. This was the first time I've personally seen Dougie Bowl and I was immensely impressed. He bowled with great control and I don't think he'll have to put up with those kind of facilities for too long! At £11m I don't know how many people have him in their fantasy XI's but I now wish I had! A quick bowling change saw the introduction of new boy Wilsher who immediately took a wicket, his spell lasted just two overs as the captain switched around the bowlers from the top ends again to induce further wickets. Maxwell finished with 2-37 as he was out-staged by the Mickey Payne show running through the middle and lower order. The Score book may say Payne had 5-38 but 2 wickets were credited to Coote for tactics, 1 to Lingala for keeping the batter on strike the ball before and 2 to Willis for catching quality! Unlucky Mickey... Always next week!
West Essex kept swinging but in the end, run out of men and when Griffiths finally held out on the boundary, they were all out for 164 with 2 overs to go.
20 points for Brentwood who will take that momentum to Shenfield next week.
Match report by Sonny Willis
P.S. Apologies for any inaccuracies in this report. Trevor asked me to do from memory without a book and I spent my time in the field practicing my golf swing!
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22nd May
Shenfield 3rd XI - 308-5 declared
Brentwood 3rd XI - 168-8
Match Drawn
Report by Peter Bainbridge
Scorecard
At least the tans and calories were topped up during a disappointing effort by Brentwood at the Courage Playing Fields, Shenfield.
The sun shone and the tea plates heaved while Brentwood grimly clung on to deny Shenfield victory in a 11-4 points draw.
Captain Trevor Coote's one winning toss of the season came relatively early this summer and he courted controversy by inserting the opposition on a baking day.
His decision seemed justified as Shenfield subsided to 50 for three thanks to a wicket apiece by Peter Bainbridge (comfortably caught by Sonny Willis in between his practice golf swings) and Mick Payne and a superb run out by Greg Holmes.
Kavanagh survived a staightforward chance to slip off Bainbridge and along with Tredgett turned the game. The pair played steadily up to drinks, the score being 116 for three, before cutting loose and regularly reaching the mini boundaries.
Dougie Maxwell, seemingly disconcerted by the steep downhill slope, opened his post-drinks spell with two no-balls which were carted for four and six. Twelve off the over before it had even started! His three overs, which went for 34, were the "worst I have ever bowled". Don't worry Dougie, you're only 15, there's plenty of time for you to top that.
Vamshi Lingala plugged away manfully with no luck and Shenfield had reached 250 before Tredgett miscued off Bainbridge and was caught for 127.
Kavanagh immediately followed him for 70, run out by another superb piece of work by Holmes, whose pick-up and direct hit from 30 yards was out of keeping with some of the utter dross produced by his team-mates in the field.
More lusty blows took Shenfield past 300 before they declared, perhaps belatedly, after 50 overs.
An outsider to the area might be struck by the number of well-furnished citizens in Shenfield and the size of the teas at the local cricket club could possibly be the reason. Maybe the club were expecting a few dozen members of coaching staff to accompany Brentwood because the teas totally defeated the 11 players, despite some manful attempts.
Anyway, after staggering back out to the pitch weighed down by the bountful extravaganza, Brentwood's top order batted in soporific fashion.
Glossing over the details, Brentwood subsided to 90 for seven with plenty of time left in the match. Thankfully, Holmes and Maxwell showed their mettle as well as fine technique in seeing off the dangerous Hedden who limped out of the attack with figures of six for 32 from 16 overs.
Shenfield had very little back-up bowling and the pair batted deep into the final 20 overs before Maxwell edged one that he tried to leave and departed for his side's top score of 30.
Payne and Holmes easily saw out the remaining four overs, Holmes finishing with 29 not out.
Next week Brentwood visit the green swards of Gidea Park and Romford.
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5th June
Brentwood 3rd XI - 286-7
Wanstead 3rd XI - 203-6
Match Drawn
Report by Peter Bainbridge
Scorecard
After the washout at top dogs Gidea Park and Romford the previous week, Brentwood were greeted with clear blue skies for the visit of traditionally powerful Wanstead.
With no chance of rain coming to the rescue, Brentwood knew they had to look within themselves and produce some backbone to start to justify captain Trevor Coote's pre-season claim that he would be lifting the Premier Division trophy in September (you've got to admire the man's optimism).
Sonny Willis immediately looked within his inside pocket and produced £140 to belatedly pay his annual subs and once the moths had settled started to strap on his pads as Brentwood were rather surprisingly inserted.
"It's dry out there, think I'll wear my trainers?" Willis said before striding out to open the innings with David Smith. Obvious outcome. Wanstead's opening bowler fires in a toe-crushing yorker first ball that brings winces from the watching gallery as Willis crumples to the turf.
After an interruption of several minutes, a hobbling Willis bravely carries on but some might say it was a tender mercy when his stumps were shattered by same bowler soon after. £140 for one run and a sore foot. Not Sonny's greatest day.
Next ball somehow ducks under Andy Taker's radar and knocks over his middle and off - three for two and situation bleak.
Smith and Nick Childs hint at great things, playing some expansive strokes which fly across the parched outfield to the shortish boundaries. But when both are out in quick succession Brentwood are 40 for four and sending out the search party for a hero.
Enter James Welham. He scores runs and takes wickets for fun in the junior sections but it's fair (though maybe slightly harsh) to say his undoubted talent has never been totally fulfilled in the senior sides - until today.
Now, this correspondent has been a constant figure in the IIIs for the last six years (captains Lingwood, Priddle - I've seen them both off) and I've played with an array of batting talent (Tony Jones, West, Larner, Patel, Prior) and I'm confident that this knock from the boy Welham was the best I've seen.
There were shots that made Tamim Iqbal look ordinary and which words can hardly do justice. One flick off his legs flew over midwicket for six before the bowler had finished his follow-through. Questions have been raised about his shot selection in the past, but this innings hinted at a new maturity.
OK, he got dropped off a sitter at mid-off on 46, and gave a very sharp chance of a return catch on 66, but generally the boy was imperious. The ball absolutely flew off his bat. All over the place. On the floor. Over the boundary. I wish I could bat like that.
Ben Holmes had contributed exactly zero when the fourth-wicket partnership reached 50 such was Welham's dominance and he single-handedly changed the momentum of the match.
On a perfect day, Mum and Dad Welham were even present to complete the emotional scenes as son reached his century with a six over square leg. Sadly, his innings ended immediately (sorry, I can't remember how, it's all a tear-stained blur) but it was a 101 that will live long in the memory of those fortunate enough to witness it. Sadly for old folk like myself, I fear it will be the last time he features in a third XI. Larner, Walford - he's all yours.
Anyway, back to the back pitch. Brentwood were 190 for five at this stage and still with some work to do to set a challenging total against what was expected to be a powerful Wanstead batting line-up.
Holmes had looked exactly as billed - a batsman out of form - but with Welham blazing from the other end, he had been afforded the chance to play himself back into touch. When Welham departed, Holmes took up the mantle and unleashed some punishing drives that completed the demoralistion of the Wanstead attack. He raced past fifty and was unbeaten on an excellent 70 when the innings was called to a halt in the 52nd over.
Wanstead's sluggish over rate (partly due to the fact Welham kept losing the ball in the undergrowth) meant they faced a very tough chase.
They had quality at the top of the order but thanks to decent bowling were never up with the required rate and started the final 20 overs needing another 190 to win with seven wickets left. Too much to ask and they settled for reaching 200 and a fourth batting point.
Needless to say, Brentwood's best bowler was Welham (three wickets). He was also the best fielder (two catches, including a steepling take off Dougie Maxwell). He was also the last member of the team packing equipment back in the container as team-mates who had expended one-tenth of the energy he had during the day rushed off to the comfort of the pavilion to get ready to drink his jug (you know who you are, shirkers).
Saturday takes Brentwood (minus Welham) to Harold Wood, one of last season's promoted teams.
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19th June
Brentwood 3rd XI - 242-7
Upminster 3rd XI - 164 all out
Brentwood won by 78 runs
Report by Peter Bainbridge
Scorecard
While England's World Cup quest was foundering on the twin rocks of player egos and sheer incompetence, Brentwood IIIs showed spirit and class to dispose of Upminster on the OCG's back pitch.
Defeat at Harold Wood the previous week had been likened to Fabio's finest being held by Algeria and while John Terry had blamed the lack of beer for England's failure, there could be no excuses about shortage of alcohol for Trevor Coote's merry men.
Instead, Brentwood buckled down and with Neil Wicks performing the talismanic work expected of Wayne Rooney, Brentwood overpowered a surprisingly compliant Upminster side.
It almost goes without saying now that Coote lost the toss but the skipper at least had his prayers answered when his side were inserted, thus rendering Dave Balroop's late arrival after a shift at the oven face a mere trifle (or cream bun, depending on personal preference).
Dave Smith and Sonny Willis opened the innings with stylish poise. The back pitch has played surprisingly well this season, offering generally even bounce and pace, and the pair had little trouble taking the score towards 50 until Willis came up against the one ball of the day that kept low and was trapped lbw.
That brought Wicks to the crease and he started out on what must have been the best third XI innings for....oh, possibly two weeks (that's James Welham v Wanstead for those few of you who don't follow these reports assiduously).
Wicks is a much different batsman to Welham in that he doesn't spank a ball every over into the bushes. However, his quiet accumulation with wristy flicks and nudges is just as effective and with Smith he guided Brentwood past the 100-mark. Smith, possibly the best net player in the South East, has been scoring decent runs in the middle this season without getting the "big" score he looks capable of, and again passed 50 before playing down the wrong line to the leg-spinner and having his stumps broken.
Andy Taker was undone by the leg-spinner's long hop which he guided straight to mid-on before Ben Holmes joined Wicks for the most productive partnership of the afternoon. With Wicks infuriating the fielding side with Dilshan-style flicks over the slips, Holmes played some typically bludgeoning drives - a perfect partnership dispelling claims that, like Lampard and Gerrard, the pair can't play together.
Brentwood cruised towards 200 before wickets started to fall in the late scramble for runs. Holmes went for 37, brother Greg fell to a cracking drive that flew head height all the way to long-on, and Wicks, needing four off the last two deliveries to bring up his century, was almost stumped off the first and was then bowled off the second. A fine 98.
The total looked challenging but after the demise against Harold Wood the previous week, nothing could be taken for granted.
James Boon and Balroop were an imposing looking opening attack. While Balroop bowled a challenging line and length and had several close calls, it was the erratic Boon who made the breakthroughs, having one opener caught behind and the other bowled.
With the wickets came runs though and Upminster may have been fancying their chances at 80 for two in the 16th over. It went downhill for them from there with a smart piece of work by wicketkeeper Wicks seeing the hard-hitting No4 stumped off Peter Bainbridge (yes, he stood up to me, difficult to believe I know).
Wicks then caught the dangerous No3 off Bainbridge in the 25th over - the last before the final 20 - to put Brentwood well on top. Dougie Maxwell started the post-drinks spell with two wides and Coote shouting at him to revert to his full run. Maxwell ignored the pleas (good decision) and promptly bowled the batsman round his legs.
With Upminster keen to pursue unlikely victory, Bainbridge completed a five-for (including two smart catches in gully by "safe hands" Willis) and Maxwell's excellent 4.3 overs brought him three for not-many-at-all. Balroop came on again near the end but could not join the party (great shame as he had brought Danish pastries). There were still eight overs of the final 20 when Maxwell took the final wicket.
Excellent win, inspired by Wicks' 98 and Upminster's lack of enthusiasm to hang on for a draw. Hopefully the good work will continue when South Woodford visit on Saturday.
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26th June
South Woodford 3rd XI - 155 all out
Brentwood 3rd XI - 156-2
Brentwood won by 8 wickets
Report by Peter Bainbridge
Scorecard
Brentwood made short work of bottom club South Woodford at the OCG to pick up 18 points and offer up the tantalising prospect of a title charge.
While some members of the squad (Bainbridge) have been preoccupied with gaining enough points to avert the annual battle against relegation, three wins in the last four matches have bolstered the claims of others (Coote) that this could be a blue riband year.
Success will depend as ever on availability over the next few weeks but if Brentwood can field as star studded a team as here then the Coote dream could live on.
On a baking day with the run-laden back pitch threatening to be a batting paradise, it was no surprise that Coote lost the toss.
Fortunately, he could call upon Lloyd Renvoize to open the bowling after he had been cruelly cast aside by the twos for failing to score the 150 they needed from him to win the previous week.
Renvoize proceeded to rip through the South Woodford top order like a man with a point to prove. His run-up, all elbows and knees, is a frightening sight on its own and when he gets his radar right, as he did here, third XI batsmen don't really know what's hit them.
On a fast track and with a new ball in his hand, Renvoize had too much for the visitors and when he retired from the attack after seven spiteful overs, the score was 45 for five. Three for Renvoize, two for the slightly slower but equally frightening Peter Bainbridge.
Billy Hull, another thrown out of the second XI in favour of more youthful talent (sarcasm alert), joined in the demolition job with his skiddy, on-you-before-you-know-it style. Two wickets for him, another for Bainbridge, South Woodford 68 for eight, in the bar for 4.30pm...it was all going too easily.
Suddenly, South Woodford's No9 realised that on a perfect batting track he did not have to try to hit every other ball for six and started to stage a recovery of sorts from the depths of despair.
He had reached 50 when Coote called Renvoize back to the attack. Renvoize removed the No10 care of a good running catch by wicketkeeper Ryan Barker who felt compelled to go for it after having left an earlier chance for an unnamed slip fielder to drop. Then Dougie Maxwell tempted the half-centurion into an indiscrete charge which brought his stumping in the 41st over.
The total of 155 was 100 runs below par and after after a sumptuous early tea Brentwood started their reply with confidence. It didn't go according to plan as Dave Smith nibbled at one outside off stump for a rare failure and then a strangely becalmed Sam Ali got strangled down the leg side.
Sonny Willis had not looked totally at ease either against the new ball but gradually settled down and with Barker got on top of the attack.
Barker played some crashing drives that scorched across the burnt outfield and was first to his 50, closely followed by Willis, who was more reserved apart from when berating team-mates for not being quick enough to help look for a lost ball.
The South Woodford attack was a mixed bag that bled runs after a decent start and the victory was completed at 5.53pm in the 29th over.
Next Saturday fourth-placed Brentwood visit Chelmsford, who are two points ahead. The following week, leaders Shenfield visit the OCG. It's make or break time.
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3rd July
Chelmsford 3rd XI - 235-6
Brentwood 3rd XI - 234-7
Chelmsford won by 4 wickets
Report by Peter Bainbridge
Scorecard
Brentwood passed up a golden chance to leapfrog Chelmsford into third place in the Premier Division when they succumbed to defeat with two balls remaining at Chelmer Park.
This was a match Brentwood needed to win to maintain hopes of launching a title assault and they had every chance given the relative strengths of the sides.
While champions Chelmsford were bemoaning poor availability, Brentwood were oozing talent (and that talent was oozing thanks to the dressing-room radiators pumping out heat on an already sweltering day).
Inspection of the wicket revealed it to resemble something of a Dutch cheese as it was peppered with a series of mouse-size holes but it was a dish that clearly suited openers Sonny Willis and David Smith after Trevor Coote surprisingly won the toss.
Brentwood's stylish opening pair wasted no time in finding the shortish boundaries, sending the ball skidding over the parched outfield and through careless Chelmsford hands.
The first six overs bowled up the hill produced 49 runs and the rate from those coming down the hill was not far behind as the score rocketed along. Seasoned observers have come to expect classic strokeplay from Smith but it was Willis who took the eye today. Such was the sumptousness of one of his back-foot drives that cries of "Great shot, Smithy" mistakenly rang out. There can be no higher praise.
A score in excess of 270 looked likely but the introduction of leg spin from the top end put a dampener on the fun as Tom Halsey, who had taken seven wickets against Brentwood in last season's fixture here, proceeded to bowl the spell of the day.
He quickly had Smith (24) caught behind and although that was his only success, his 20 overs in batsman-friendly conditions gave away just 67 runs as he effectively tied up one end.
Willis had stroked the off-spinner from the other end for three fours in one over but then failed to connect properly as he tried to lift him over mid-on and was disappointingly gone for 44*.
As the spinners turned the screw, young guns Ben Sach and Elliott Skinner played watchfully before Skinner (15) gave a return catch. James Welham (21) played round one and was bowled, Ryan Barker (0) attacked far too early and was snaffled at square leg and Ben Holmes (20), after looking the most likely to break Halsey's domination, was bowled by the returning opening bowler from the other end.
Sach, the third team player of 2009 making a belated seasonal debut due to exams, had reached 58, including 18 off one over from the off-spinner, when miscueing and being caught.
It was left to James Boon (20no) and Trevor Coote (18no) to scamper late runs as Brentwood declared on 234-7 after 52 overs.
The chat at tea centred on Willis' amazing boundary ratio**, the quality of the samosas and the fact Brentwood were possibly 20 runs below par.
With big James Boon careering down the hill, Brentwood were hopeful of early wickets but Chelmsford got off to a good start as he struggled to find line and length. The score had reached 40 before Peter Bainbridge removed both openers and in tandem with Welham managed to cut down the scoring rate.
Chelmsford's third wicket pair nudged and nurdled before starting to accelerate as 6pm approached, smacking Bainbridge for 18 in one particularly damaging over, and were left needing another 120 from the last 20 overs as the match hung in the balance.
Bainbridge, continuing to labour up the hill, had the No3 well caught by Welham in the covers and then captain Barry Clayden edged him behind. When Boon took a good catch at deep square leg off Dougie Maxwell, Chelmsford were five down and needing another 50 at just under six an over.
Unfortunately, they refused to panic and continued to pick up runs. In a last throw of the dice, Coote recalled Boon to the attack and his first ball cleaned out the No7. He couldn't follow it up though and Chelmsford needed three to win off his last over.
Two dot balls caused a few palpitations before a single and a two took Chelmsford over the line. Still, 10 points was not a bad return for Brentwood and they remain fourth.
Next Saturday, Brentwood offer a warm welcome to their friends from Shenfield.
*While your third XI reporter does his best to provide entertaining accounts, he accepts that he is not great on details. This is due to him failing to refer to the scorebook and drinking too much in the bar after matches. Therefore Willis has reminded him to mention that he struck nine fours in his 44.
** Willis would also like it mentioned that he struck 12 fours in his 57 the previous week and that he has now passed 300 runs for the season.
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24th July
Woodford Wells 3rd XI - 283-9 declared
Brentwood 3rd XI - 285-5
Brentwood won by 5 wickets
Report by Peter Bainbridge
Scorecard
A run-drenched afternoon ended with Brentwood cruising to victory with six overs to spare and maintaining their outside chance of lifting the Premier Division title.
Nick Childs was the batting star with a blistering 147 but it was a good all-round performance by Brentwood as they kept hold of third place on a day when the top four all won.
Woodford Wells' postage-stamp second pitch was looking even more appetising than usual for batsmen with parched grass meaning the merest push was liable to produce a boundary. Brentwood's senior bowlers predicted 300 to be a par score so it was with some trepidation they took to the field after bullish captain Trevor Coote inserted the Wells.
Peter Bainbridge and Billy Hull produced an admirably tight opening spell and although there were no early breakthroughs, the run rate stayed around three an over.
As the batsmen looked to push on, Bainbridge's late swing induced edges from the No1 and No3 which were snaffled by wicketkeeper Ryan Barker (at the second attempt) and first slip Trevor Coote, respectively.
At drinks, Brentwood were satisifed with a score of 110 for two although they knew an onslaught might be just around the corner.
Connor Whetstone was introduced to the attack after his highly impressive debut the preceding week and was immediately successful, defeating the awkward opener in the flight and having him smartly stumped by Barker.
When the wily Micky Payne then produced a double-wicket maiden, both caught by 'Teflon' Barker (again, both at the second attempt), the Wells were wilting at 160 for five.
They eventually found a couple of batsmen with a good eye prepared to try their luck and Brentwood were at last made to suffer. However, the boundary blitz was ended by the returning Payne, whose ever-decreasing speed proved too clever for the swinging bats and produced another stumping for Barker and two catches in the deep for Ben Holmes. With a superb run out by Greg Holmes thrown into the mix, Woodford Wells finished their 52 overs at a substandard 283 for nine, a thoroughly acceptable target for Brentwood especially as quick turnrounds had left them plenty of time to bat.
Tea was enjoyed in a half-empty dining room as the second XI had surprisingly declined to hang around to offer support after their early finish on the adjacent pitch (there are rumours that for forthcoming weeks Paul Larner will request teas are served before stumps are pitched as he can't guarantee his matches will last beyond 2.30pm).
With the third XI's regular No1 and No2 absent, it was a very Victorians-style opening partnership that marched out to the middle in the shape of Shane Surujbally and Coote.
Sadly, it didn't survive long. In the second over, amid six wides, Coote managed to get an edge to one of the few he could reach and was caught behind.
That only brought Childs to the wicket. There must be something about the Woodford air that inspires him as it was a few years ago at nearby South Woodford that he smashed a double century for the fourth team. He set off with similar intent here, getting off the mark with a flick over long-on for six before having a let-off when dropped off an easy chance at midwicket. How costly that proved to be.
This was a rare outing for Surujbally but he looked like he had never been away as he saw off the new-ball threat before starting to punish anything remotely off target. With Childs cutting and driving with freedom, the score raced past 100 at around eight an over as the Wells desperately rotated their attack in an effort to stem the flow of runs.
With the score at 130, Surujbally edged one to slip and was out one run short of what would have been a well-deserved 50.
Barker fell cheaply, miscueing a drive to midwicket, but Childs was by now seeing it like a medicine ball. There was little the fielders ringing the boundary could do as the ball regularly flew 30 yards over their heads. Two particularly huge hits, one over mid-on and the other over midwicket, sent the ball sailing over the trees and houses never to be seen again.
With Greg Holmes playing the perfect foil to Childs, Brentwood arrived at drinks after 32 overs at 228 for three - 54 needed off 20 overs.
Childs eventually holed out playing a tired shot to long off but had done more than enough by that stage to thoroughly dispirit the Wells. After Ben Holmes fell for 12, Sam Dawes (10 not out) hit the winning runs, leaving Greg Holmes unbeaten on 33.
Next Saturday Brentwood host Harold Wood.
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31st July
Brentwood 3rd XI - 190 all out
Gidea Park & Romford 3rd XI - 191-5
Gidea Park & Romford won by 5 wickets
Report by Peter Bainbridge
Scorecard
Defeat to Gidea Park and Romford inflicted a mortal blow to Brentwood's title hopes on the cruel pastures known as the back pitch.
Curtains had been pulled back on the morning of the third v fourth showdown to reveal that rarest of phenomenon in this balmy summer - rain - and it was clear the toss could be crucial on a track only likely to improve as it dried out. Visiting captain James Patient called correctly and Brentwood were inserted.
The back pitch has played so well for much of the season that it is a frontrunner for most improved performer of 2010 but it can also be a cruel mistress and opener Andy Taker had to reconsider his decision to bat without a helmet as several balls reared up from back of a length.
The helmet, fetchingly run out to the middle by Taker's concerned partner to the accompaniment of cheers, was soon returning from whence it came but Ryan Chaddha joined Shane Surujbally for a partnerhip that suggested a 200+ score was possible.
Surujbally had fallen one short of his half-century the preceding week and made amends here, reaching a fine 50 with the score still in the seventies. From there, Brentwood endured something of a collapse as GPR bowled with a discipline that their absent talisman Paul Winmill, promoted to the twos, would have appreciated. It looked like Brentwood might struggle to get to 150 until Dave Balroop engineered something of a revival, helped along the way by Trevor Coote, Connor Whetstone and Dougie Maxwell.
When the last wicket fell in the 52nd over the score was a half-decent 190 and a close second half was anticipated.
A leisurely tea was all about Balroop. Not only had the butties been produced by the great all-rounder's baking colleagues at Gregg's in the high street, the munching of them was accompanied by the news that there would soon be the patter of tiny cricket boots in the Balroop household (cue jokes about buns in the oven).
The stage was set for Balroop to run through the GPR batting line-up, be chaired off the pitch by jubilant team-mates before dedicating the famous win to his recently conceived child but it didn't quite pan out like that.
GPR's openers made laboured progress but were happy to stick around until Peter Bainbridge trapped one lbw with a ball that kept low and in his next over had the other caught at mid-off by Chadha.
When Coote took an unbelievably agile catch running back from slip off Maxwell, Brentwood sniffed a chance and the last 20 overs arrived with GPR at 90'sh for three (sorry, forgot to make notes, again).
As the drying pitch continued to calm down, Patient played a captain's innings for GPR and kept his side up with the required rate despite an excellent run out by Sam Dawes and a late wicket for Balroop. The winning runs came with three overs to go, leaving Brentwood as the only team in the top four not to have won.
On Saturday they travel to Nutter Lane (great name, mediocre venue) to face Wanstead.
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7th August
Wanstead 3rd XI - 165 all out
Brentwood 3rd XI - 170-9
Brentwood won by 1 wicket
Report by Neil Jones
Scorecard
Never before can a Saturday afternoon game of cricket have provided so many ridiculous moments, incidents beyond belief, and yet still leave every player walking off the pitch and tipping their cap to an exciting game of cricket.
The fun and games began as early as Thursday. Captain Coote sending a text to the chosen few, "11.30 meet at the club." Fast forward to Saturday morning, 11.50 am, only 6 players at the ground and no sign of Coote.
An angry Coote eventually contacted Willis irate at the departure of his vice captain, who seemingly should have known that he didn't have a car, didn't know where Sach was, and didn't know how to get to the f*****g ground!
Fast forward to 1.15pm, 8 Brentwood players watch eagerly as Coote tosses the coin. Motivation levels of certain unnamed players were at an all time low following the weeks protracted selection and didn't improve once the pitch and outfield had been surveyed. Nothing else could go wrong could it? And then Barker unzipped his kit bag to release the single worst smelling kit anyone could ever wish to inhale.
Coote won the toss. Only one option really with all 3 seamers for the day stuck on the M11 heading for Cambridge, we will have a bowl!
Man management is key to captaincy, let 16 year old starlet Sach choose his end, and leave very occasional bowler Jones to run through the moguls that were present at the other end. See what happens. Sach disappeared for 40 from 3 overs.
Another delay was imminent as an angry Wanstead resident refused to give the ball back from his garden. 15 minutes of arguing, potential violence and even a request for him to sub field ended with nothing but a new ball required.
Holmes, Hull and Dawes were still getting to grips with Google maps as Wanstead began to crumble to the raw nature of Jones' seamers. 65-4 from 8 with 8 players ain't that bad!
Maxwell was the shining light, bowling 14 overs of leg spin which mesmerised batsmen and wicket keeper alike. 3-36 was a match winning return from the youngster.
Willis took a screamer of a catch; Jones tired of taking wickets with seam and threw down some off spin, ending with 6-80. Phileas Fogg and his compatriots arrived 2 hours late and with 2 wickets left to get. Wanstead eventually all out for a below par 165.
'Strong' doesn't really do the batting line up justice at this level. However, the team still gave defeat a bloody good go. Surujbally was bowled from the first ball of the innings only to be relieved by a jet-lagged Holmes call of no-ball. All hell broke loose when he then reversed his decision on appeal from the fielders and non-striker. Referral systems eh?!
All was going swimmingly from there on. Willis made a classy 19, Sach looked a million dollars for 30 and at 106-4 with Jones and Barker at the crease all was going well. And then it happened. Barker got in a muddle, not content with 2 successive 4s, out to the third heave of the over. Holmesy's day was compounded with a half hour grind for 1 only to be out to the second best catch of the day. Dawes was run out, Hull stumped and Coote bowled round his legs, leaving 36 required with last pair Jones and Maxwell.
The junior member showed class beyond his years scrapping away for 6 not out whilst Jones dug deep to get within 15 of the total just before the rain came. A short delay added to the drama, but in truth the victory was never in doubt once the Wanstead bowlers couldn't stand up any longer on delivery.
Jones finished on 64* getting his monies worth of a game, a bargain at £11 - cheaper than the 2s and you don't have to spend the day with Paul Degg.
Holmes was given the task of getting Ben Sach home, only to find he had a puncture. A day in the life of Brentwood 3s.
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28th August
South Woodford 3rd XI - 154 all out
Brentwood 3rd XI - 204 all out
Brentwood won by 50 runs
Report by Peter Bainbridge
Scorecard
A day that started with the remarkable feat of all 11 players arriving in the deepest depths of South Woodford in good time ended with this smooth-as-clockwork victory.
The shambles of the trip to nearby Wanstead three weeks earlier when only six team members arrived on time meant stand-in captain Sonny Willis took no chances and demanded an 11am meet-up. New boy Janika showed an impressive knowledge of 3rd XI tradition by rolling up at the OCG half an hour late but even that was not enough to spoil travel arrangements as players declined to copy the Ben Holmes' route-planner which entails going up the M11 to Cambridge whatever the intended destination.
The early arrival at South Woodford gave the team an extended chance to watch the 2nd XI warm-up, count the no-balls at the Lord's Test from the comfort of the bar and listen to Willis mull over what to do should he win the toss.
Willis need not have bothered deliberating as he called wrong, maintaining the form of absent captain Trevor "I never take holidays in the cricket season" Coote, who was following the goings-on via satellite link from Barbados.
Brentwood were inserted on a damp pitch which was surrounded by an uncut outfield and the way the ball immediately reared and popped from a length suggested 180 was going to be a competitive score.
Willis and Shane Surujbally provided a solid start against a probing opening attack. Surujbally (24) was the dominant partner, smashing a couple of fierce drives back over the bowlers' heads before miscueing another attempt and watching his steepling chance well held at mid-off with the score at 35.
Nick Childs joined his captain and carried on from where Surujbally left off, punishing anything short or over-pitched and making batting look relatively easy. After being warned by his captain to beware of pulling because of the inconsistent bounce, Childs missed a pull and was lbw, departing for 42 from 37 deliveries.
Still, Brentwood were in good spirits as drinks arrived in the 26th over with the score on 113 for two and Willis playing an impressive sheet-anchor role. A mini-collapse ensued as Greg Holmes departed (missed a straight one), followed by Willis for 38 (gloved a popper), Ryan Barker (crazy guy, crazy shot) and Sam Dawes (top-edged drive).
Thankfully, the tail wagged, first through Billy Hull and then Janika, who had been due to bat four but arrived late in the middle and went in eight instead. Hull hit a rapid-fire 28 and Janika was last-man out for a diligent 32 as Brentwood crept past the 200-barrier in the 51st over.
With the pitch continuing to play tricks, South Woodford never looked likely to chase down the challenging total. It was turgid stuff early on as batsmen struggled to get the ball off the square. Hull made the breakthrough and once his initial spell had finished, replacement Dawes induced an edge from one of the few deliveries he got in the right area.
Dougie Maxwell took over from Dawes and with Peter Bainbridge still plugging away from the other end, the scoring rate almost came to a halt. The batsmen at this stage were being barracked by their own team for lack of progress and the pressure eventually brought dividends as Maxwell and the returning Hull cashed in.
South Woodford were 75 for five off 30 overs as 6pm arrived and they swiftly declined to 101 for nine, making the gathering storm clouds the only threat to an away victory.
A last-wicket rally was only token resistance and the innings ended with seven of the final 20 overs left as Connor Whetstone bowled the No10 for a cavalier 49.
Hull's second spell had been the key to breaking through South Woodford's line-up and brought him three wickets, including a smart head-high slip catch by Willis, as he finished with four for 25 from 12 excellent overs. Maxwell's three wickets included a fine running catch from wicketkeeper Barker who took the ball almost at mid-off. Whetstone took two wickets and showed maturity in not being intimidated by the 10th-wicket pair's fireworks.
Captain Willis was relieved to be able to hand the reins back to Coote with at least one win in the bank from his three weeks in charge (abandonment and 10-wicket defeat the other results) and Brentwood go into the final match at Upminster virtually guaranteed of finishing at least fourth, and with third place a distinct possibility.
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