Saturday 2nd XI v Bramley

Fine win to finish!

Brook won the toss, and skipper Jim Macaulay elected to bat on a bright sunny afternoon.

David Carpenter and Nick Randall combined aggression with stubborn defence to put on 54 in repairing the early loss of Adnan Khan. Nick edged one to the keeper off Dooley after an excellent 37 which included a wonderful straight 6. This brought young Will Owen to the middle. He looked very assured before being bowled by a good off-cutter from Knewstubb. Will’s Dad, Nick Owen, then hit the ground running and maintained a steady partnership of 37 with David before David was bowled for a steady and very valuable 31. Theo and Pat Clarke had no luck and were quickly dismissed, Theo to a very unfortunate runout. Finn Macaulay, like the entire trio of Brook under 13 batsmen, did not look out of place before he edged one behind. Jim Macaulay (36 not out) then joined Nick (who made a very accomplished 45 not out), in providing some late batting pyrotechnics, putting on a rapid 48 partnership to get Brook to a very respectable 193-7 in their 40 overs.

On a decent batting strip, Bramley started well and kept in touch with the required rate of just under 5 an over. Andrew Herring came into the game with a back niggle and was down on his usual pace but still bowled an effective opening spell before breaking down with a nasty back/sciatic injury while diving to save a four in the field. Pip Clarke provided much needed first aid while the match was rightly halted in its tracks. We all wish Andrew a swift recovery.

The Bramley openers were nearing a solid 50 partnership before Adnan got the much-needed breakthrough during a threatening spell of 6 overs for 12, bowling D Martin through the gate with a terrific swinging ball. A further partnership was looking dangerous before Finn Macaulay got one through Leatham, and then the rot set in. Pat Clarke’s nagging line and length put Brook on top as the dangerous looking Turner, and then Knewstubb, departed in successive balls. Adnan did not have any luck with the bat but provided the moment of the match in first parrying the ball, and then diving backwards to clutch it, giving Will Owen his first league wicket for Brook! Pat picked up 2 more wickets to complete a great spell of 4-35 as Bramley succumbed quickly. The final wicket went to Will Owen as our junior cricketers again showed fine promise for the future. A great team effort and a comfortable win in the end by 64 runs, bookending an excellent unbeaten first season for the new 2nd XI.

This has been a really encouraging start for the 2nd XI which will go from strength to strength next season.

Congratulations to all involved!