2nd XI:
Can this be right? The 2nd XI season report without promotion or relegation to describe? It’s true, and here is how it happened.
Having been promoted in the final game of last season, the target had to be to try and stay in the top division, a task that had been beyond us in our previous 2 attempts.
Our first match of the season saw us take on Richmond on a cold and damp day. A lack of pre-season time in the middle and some poor shot selection saw us all out for 100 having been put in. Fortunately for us it looked like the Richmond batsmen had spent even less time preparing as we rolled them over for 80. High fives all round!
Unfortunately in the next game it appeared that Brondesbury had had plenty of practice as they easily chased down a modest 145 for the loss of only 1 wicket.
The next game against Stanmore saw an improved team batting performance with Dilip Thakkar hitting an unbeaten 86 in a total of 208, unfortunately we were unable to take our chances in the field as each of the Stanmore batsmen got decent scores, eventually reaching our total for the loss of 4 wickets.
So after a decent start, 2 defeats had left us just above the relegation zone. Rain at Eastcote meant we would have to wait to put things right, a good introduction to the English weather for Karan who had just landed from 40 degree heat in India.
It was important to bounce back against a Southgate side that had lost its first 3 games. We did it in style. Having won my first toss of the season (there wouldn’t be many more) all our bowlers chipped in with wickets (Yogi Prabhu 3, James Martin 1, Joe Brandreth 2 and Karan Joshi 3) as we bowled them out for 102. In response we cruised to a 10 wicket win, with 47 from John Mays and 43 from Fraser Coxhill. We continued in that vein against Hampstead. 4 wickets from Karan and 3 apiece from Amit Puri and Joe saw us dismiss them for 138. We found it a little heavy going reaching the target, Karan top scoring with 40 as we eventually reached our target 6 wickets down.
So from being just above relegation we were now just below the top 2 going into the game against Teddington. Their openers got them off to a cracking start, before Amit with 5-22 from 10 overs put the brakes on. A target of 218 was set and that could have been a lot more. Chasing we got off to a decent start with Amit and John Mays putting on 53 for the first wicket. However 53-0 became 92-7 with only Matt Lowen showing any resistance. It was left to James Pettifer (aka 147) and Yogi to try and block out.
Unfortunately with 1 over to go 147 was out and we lost by 90 runs.
Acton were up next on a hot day and a belter of a Brentham wicket. It was, honest. Having been put in Tom Brandreth (56) and I put on 101 for the first wicket. Karan then proceeded to give a batting masterclass as he reached his 100 in the 50th over, allowing me to declare with a massive 283-5. The Acton chase never really got going with Yogi (3-31) and Karan (3-33) taking regular wickets. We couldn’t break up a couple of stubborn partnerships quickly enough to get the win though as Acton finished on 139-8.
The last game in the first half of the season saw the local derby game at Ealing. Another insertion was met with another huge total in response. We reached 248-7 with Tom scoring his second 50 and Karan his second 100 in another superb display and Poojan Vyas showing great maturity and skill in making 40. With Ealing opening with their former Ealing 1st XI captain they got off to a flier, before the spin and leg-cutter slow bowling of Karan (6-33) and 147 saw them concede only 102 from 35 overs. Again we just couldn’t take the last wicket as Ealing ended up on 193-9. It was a well deserved 4 points that could have been 10.
The next game saw us travel to Richmond. In a very even first 50 overs we kept them down to 211-9 with all the bowlers contributing. Unfortunately the same couldn’t be said of the batters as we were all out for 136, me top scoring with 46.
The next game against Brondesbury was very much a carbon copy of the first game against them. We did make it up to 227 from 55 overs with Karan scoring 94. However the strength of Brondesbury’s batting was too much for us as they cruised to a 9 wicket victory.
Stanmore were up next and having won a toss and put them in, they got off to a flier. Karan and 147 pulled them back slightly but a total of 228-6 was a daunting one. The first 2 partnerships were key to our chase. John Mays and Amit put on 83 and then Karan and John added 121 for the second wicket before John Mays ran himself out on 94. A mini-collapse followed (it wouldn’t be a true Brentham win without one), but James Martin (Pikey) and Jaz Rehal saw us home 6 down with 4 overs to spare for a vital win.
Eastcote were below us in the league at this stage so the game against them was an important test of our top division credentials. Karan scored another great 100 in our total of 226 all out, which should have been enough as we had them 98-5 and 184-8, but their 8 and 10 saw them home in the last over.
Southgate still had not won a game when we came to play them. A winning toss and good bowling kept all but 2 of their players under 20. Unfortunately, one got 84 and they made it to 191all out, with Pikey taking 2 wickets, Karan 3 and ‘147’ 5-52. In our reply we were making good progress, Amit had scored 55, but then unfortunately the heavens opened and we were rained off needing another 80 to win. Still at least we had the 4 points by the time the rain came.
Hampstead were another team who were below us but threatening to overtake us. A wet wicket saw a delayed start and we never got going. Jayesh top scored with 60 batting at 9 as we batted out 55 overs to reach 134-9. Painful. Another deluge at tea time saw the outfield become even wetter and our openers not able to run up and bowl with any conviction. Add to that the fact that the £1 a pint offer at their bar was no longer on offer made Pikey very unhappy. We took 3 wickets as they chased our meagre total down with ease.
Next up were Teddington. On their arrival it was clear that they were a much changed side from the one we had played earlier in the season. However despite them missing a host of regulars only Paul Sylvester with 50 and Jaz Rehal with 42 really troubled the scorers, much to the watching crowd’s disappointment as we got up to 140. In reply Jayesh bowled superbly for figures of 5-26 from 20 overs, but unfortunately the other end only contributed 1 and a run out as they reached our total for 7. Close, but we really should have done a lot better.
So our penultimate game against Acton was a crucial one, given Ealing were our last opponents. Arriving at their ground after a very wet week saw their opening bowler with broad smile – he had obviously heard about my toss-losing abilities and true to form we were inserted. 37 for 0 turned into 65-6 but some good sensible batting from Fraser and Jayesh down the order saw us post a total of 140. It was to be more than enough as Jayesh (5-17) and Glen (4-19) took regular wickets as we bowled them all out for 38. Ten points and our survival guaranteed.
Despite being safe a game against Ealing is never a dead rubber so after failing to win my last ever toss and being put in it was nice to put a decent score on the board. With me getting out in the 90’s for the second time this season (9 seasons with Pikey has held me in good stead in terms of avoiding buying drinks for people – even my Christmas card from him was hand delivered to avoid him having to buy a stamp) it was left to Joe Brandreth to score his maiden 2nd XI league 50, just reward for an excellent season and testament to his excellent temperament and understanding of how to build an innings.
We declared on 214 and although we took regular wickets we didn’t take the chances we needed to, to end with a win as Ealing made it home 8 down with 4 balls to spare.
So the season ended in defeat, but overall we had met the target I had set at the beginning of the year. We had stayed up and look forward to top division cricket for a second successive year.
My thanks to Yogi for his sterling efforts as Team Secretary in ensuring we always managed to put out a full side in every game, to James Pettifer for taking the side in my absence and for his support as my vice-captain, to John Capps for his umpiring and to Peter Brandreth for his work in the Scorebox.
This is the 6th end of season report I have written as 2nd XI captain and it is also my last. I had decided at the start of the season that it would be my last as captain, so to be able to sign off having stayed in the top division was even more pleasing. I would like to thank everyone who has played for me over the years for their efforts and all the people off the pitch who have given me their support. I wish my successor well and look forward to taking the senior pro role in the coming season. All the best for the 2011 season.
JON MAYS – ex 2nd XI Captain
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