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On tis page over the next few weeks, past and present members will be sharing their great memories of Brentham Cricket Club. Below are reports of memorable games from playing members.
Memories 25th May 1982 Brentham v Enfield by Brian C Eden We drew Enfield in the County Cup and they batted first. The bowling was opened by the young Mark Saggers, who returned the tidy figures of 6 overs for 20 but without a wicket. With an opening stand between Tenneson and Sandrockof 93 in 21 overs Enfield were off to a strong start. Although Keeble and Moulding failed to capitalise, a run a ball contribution from Alan Higgs enabled Enfield to reach a difficult target of 205 for 7 from the permitted 45 overs. Brian Eden took 3-38 and Tony Williams 4 for 42. Surprisingly Brian Reid had come on 6th change. Brentham made a sound start with a stand between Robert Hunt (24) and Charlie Burrows (35) of 50 for the first wicket. This was taken on by David Dandridge (31) but after 38 overs we were in a precarious position with 7 wickets down and a score of only 143. 63 runs were required and only 7 overs remained. The run rate had risen from the original 4.6 per over to a seemingly ungettable 9. Brian Eden joined Tony Williams, who had already occupied the crease for 40 minutes Tony had gone in at 6, an unusually early position for him and only David Hughes and Mark Saggers were to come. The odds were not very favourable, particularly as Keeble was bowling and had already taken 3 wickets. On completion of the 40th over the score had edged forward to 152, when in Keeble’s penultimate over Williams hit him for consecutive sixes off the last two deliveries. 7 came off the next over but 24 were required off 2 overs with Eden facing. The second, third ,and fourth deliveries disappeared for 6 with in total 19 off the over. 2 singles and a crashing 4 saw us to an unbelievable victory with 2 balls to spare. Keeble’s last 2 overs had cost 33 runs. Williams was 35 not out and Eden an extraordinarily unbeaten 40.
Memories 6th July 1957 Ealing CC v Brentham CC by P.A.R.Swann
The annual fixture against Ealing at Corfton Road took place on Saturday 6th July and was a local derby in every sense of the word. I have to say that there was a certain added significance for both my brother John and I because we had both been scorers for Ealing 1st and A XIs for several seasons when we were aged 12-14. The encounterwas enhanced by the number of cricketers on view with both 1st and 2nd XI County Cricket experience- Frank Ahl, Horace Brearley, Bob Felton, and John Swann for Brentham and for Ealing Ken Hinge, and Eddie Ingram. I cannot remember who made the most runs or took the most wickets but I remember the totals. Ealing batted first and at tea they had been bowled out for 90. Brian Mead had bowled 15 overs, 5 maidens and taken 4 for 34. Unbelievable I thought, as we did not have a great record against Ealing, and recall saying to my brother in between sandwiches and cakes that “we can win this.” To which he replied “let’s wait and see”. Just after 6pm we were 72 for 9 when our last man Conrad Smithers emerged from the Pavilion. He was only 19years of age but kept wicket very well A slim bubbly personality, he had joined the club through Brian Waters. However, he could not really bat at all and he joined Brian Mead, who had only a marginally better reputation. The crowd, and there were very good crowds at this time, werevery excited and became even more so, as the score edged along until against all the odds at last the scores were level. The great Eddie Ingram bowled to Mead, who stroked the ball into the covers where there was a single to be had. Confidence by now was abounding and, unaccountably, he refused the run. He apparently wanted to finish the this tense occasion with a boundary. It was not to be and he was bowled next ball. The captain was less than pleased. It was a somewhat bizarre encounter as indeed local derbies often are with low scores on a good wicket but with the most exciting of endings.
Note: In Brian’s defence 1957 was his annus mirabilis, at least in other ways, as he took 117 wickets in the season
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