Broomfield Cricket Club at Brooklands

BCC 2s vs South Loughton 2s

Another unseasonably hot day where thankfully Captain Jim kept his coin hot streak going, as we batted in favourable conditions. SL’s opening bowlers didn’t seem too scary but evidently had enough for Jim and Dave, who soon found themselves trudging back to the clubhouse. Matt and Henry were both unlucky as they followed suit, Matt caught off the back of his bat, and Henry overstretching at a wide one. Our chips were down but Vamshi and Phil had it covered. Fire and ice, ying and Yang; whatever we call it, the duo played the situation perfectly as they stabilised the innings and took us towards the minimum par score required. Both finished not out in the 60s as we posted 225/4, a fine performance which heaped scoreboard pressure on South Loughton.

With energy restored by the Fantasia cake from tea, Vamshi and Henry C kicked things off. Unfortunately Vamshi was still in fire mode as he struggled for consistency but Henry struck twice to give us a great start. Over to Robin and Nish, the former showing his repertoire of rank, as full tosses and long hops rained down, but it somehow resulted in a wicket, well held by Henry C. Then it was the Issac show and he spun his way through four victims, including a hatrick chance. We seemed to be on top but their stubborn (and pedantic…) Captain had kept them in the game. However Matt removed all hope as he had their other dangerman caught. It was then relatively plain sailing as we bowled them all out after 39 overs, with Robin burglering the last two. SL finished 161 all out, any fears of them matching our score proved unfounded. A great team performance set up by our batters and converted in the field. Broomfield 2s back on track!
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Cricket tea. Sacred tradition. Shame on the clubs who do not provide it anymore

BCC 2s vs Ilford Catholic 3s

On the hottest day of the year so far, Jim did his thing and won the toss. Skip and Robin opened and matched all expectations; Robin flattered to deceive before toeing one, and Jim protected his stumps without threatening the scoreboard. However, that was all part of the masterplan as our long batting line up came in and made useful contributions; Matt, Henry and Issac set things up nicely for our Beserkers. Alas they broke the shield wall and fell on the enemies’s spears as both Vamshi and Pete went too soon. Over to Nishad who kept the scoreboard ticking over nicely, ably assisted by Roo, then Henry C, but we left a lot out there, on a 225+ wicket we were all out for 185 after 33 overs; this would come back to haunt us.

Vamshi and Henry C opened with miserly spells, both claiming a scalp in the process. Then it was Robin and Isaac, with Robin giving a masterclass in appealing, that will surely be taught at the Broomfield equivalent of Sandhurst in years to come, as he went from baritone to falsetto, and even appeared possessed at one point, on his way to 2 LBWs. Good catches from Ben, Henry C and Jim completed the 5-fer as we had Ilford on the ropes. 2 wickets from Isaac should have sealed the deal but alas, their no. 4 was still there, and despite our best efforts, the lack of runs bit hard, as the final pair got them over the line, 98* proving the difference. A bitter pill to swallow but defeat nonetheless. This one will hurt. Robin still had to buy a jug, apparently. But we take the positives and go again next week.
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And the match report:

B&P 4s vs BCC 2s

Our youthful team made their way through the A roads and housing estates of mid-Essex to meet the challenge of Basildon. Waiting us there was a minefield of a wicket, which a very talkative Basildon local advised had been made worse by youths racing across it on their bikes over winter, so Captain Jim did well to win the toss. Robin and Henry C opened and didn’t give much away as the ball jagged about, with Henry drawing first blood via a well held catch by Paolo at 3rd man. Matt and Dave took over but couldn’t force another wicket; that had to wait for new boy Nishad, who’s first over in a couple of years resulted in a smart take by Ben behind the stumps. Then it was Henry time, the first of two Henry shows across the match. Henry B with ball initially, as his mix of pacey full deliveries, then short bouncers, claimed three victims. Paolo joined the party with a maiden 2s wicket, but that was as good as it got, B&P finished on 193/6, probably 30-40 runs higher than they thought they’d be, given the start.

Nevertheless, 193 felt gettable, despite our lack of proven batting, but the good start we needed was scuppered by the return of the two-paced wicket as Jim succumbed to one that popped up, followed soon after by Ben in a similar manner. Over to Matt and Henry B, as both tried to be positive, and got us back on the run rate in the process. Then it was time for the second instalment of the Henry show, this time young Henry C, as he took on Basildon single-handedly with, as the talkative local, and now cricket expert, commented several times, proper shots. What we needed was a Vamshi/Pete style innings to help Henry along. Robin tried, a 6 and two 4s off the first few balls suggested that he was the one to do it, but our pound shop Berserker couldn’t live up to the hype as he was dismissed by a slower ball. Henry then valiantly batted with the tail to try and get us over the line but was left holding his bat for 41*, despite a nice cameo by Roo. All out for 157 with Henry ruing what might have been. Many positives though, despite the defeat, the two Henry’s showed what we can do, hopefully next time the rest of us will keep up with them. On to the next game!
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And the match report:

BCC 2s vs BSJ 2s

On a day perfect for batting we lost the toss but got put in. Jim and Jon, the latter who’d asked to open, kicked things off and put on exhibition of caution as both found themselves back in the pavilion with little to show for their blocks. Over to Matt and Henry B, who pushed on, helped by Phil and Adam who laid a platform for our house Berserker; Pete channelled his inner-Vamshi to hit 76 at a strike rate of 230, ably supported by Ben. We went from a par score to course record in a few overs, finishing on an intimidating 240.

Robin and Henry C opened the bowling and Henry drew first blood via a first ball LBW. Robin joined the party with a LBW, perhaps given more by intimidating the umpire rather than potentially hitting the stumps, but was then followed up by two more wickets and a hatrick chance. However, any hope that we’d broken their spirits were erroneous as BSJ’s 4 and 6 started to take our bowling apart. Dave, fresh from his impressive debut last week, suddenly found how capricious Div 8 life can be as the middle order threatened to overturn our total. We needn’t have worried though as Matt C clean bowled their blue-padded danger man as he dared to come down the wicket. Henry C took a confident catch off moon ball Pete to remove the other threat, after that it was fairly plain sailing as we bowled them all out with 5 overs to spare. A good team performance on all 3 fronts. What a start to the season! 🏏

Just like that new cricket season is here.

And the first 2s match report:

Woodham Mortimer 2 s vs BCC 2s

Pretty sure last season only ended a few weeks ago but here we were, facing life in Div 8 in the form of Woodham Mortimer away. Captain Jim continued to be the best tosser as Robin and Vamshi opened the bowling. Vamshi was particularly good, with pace and swing claiming an early wicket, whereas Robin was particularly unlucky with a couple of drops, although a new low was achieved, literally, via a ‘bouncer’ that barely left the ground. Nevertheless a platform was laid with WM stuck in the 30s after 10 overs. Debutant Dave then showed what his old club was missing with 3 wickets, before Henry, Adam, and Robin each claimed a victim, helped by Captain Jim producing a worldy on the boundary at the cost of his ribs. WM finished 183/8.

Into bat we went with Jim and Ben opening, the pair laid strong foundations which were built on by Matt, although we were a bit behind the run rate. We needn’t have worried though as we unleashed our Berserkers, Vamshi went from chewing his shield to hitting 32 off an over to get us above the run rate. Pete and Henry then finished things off to get us over the line with 10 overs to spare. A real team effort to get the season off to a great start, epitomised by Paulo and Roo, the latter having a ripped shirt to prove his fielding efforts. Onwards and upwards from here! 🏏

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BCC 2s Vs Terling 2s

Despite a wicket that could only be likened to the Somme, and with reticence from the vice captain, stand in skip Robin wisely chose to use the resources at his disposal and batted first. Rich and Matt backed up that decision by reaching 10 overs with 40 on the board, then kicked on with Matt passing 50. A disastrous 3 balls saw two runs outs, with Matt retiring hurt* in between, meant that we were in danger of giving the game away. However, Vamshi, Charlie and Henry kept momentum going and, with the tail wagging, we finished 256/8. Coin toss vindicated.

With the weather gods threatening to disrupt things we tentatively headed into the field. Their opener seemed to take a liking to Robin but Joe kept things tight at the other end. Vamshi took over and got the dangerman, however their captain had 9 lives as he kept them in touch with the run rate. A couple of difficult drops in the field didn’t help things, one between Family Cross will need to be discussed at home, but everyone kept going. Joe came back on and continued to bowl beyond his years, then Henry took control of the death overs with Vamshi, as the duo defied the darkness to take us down to the wire. Both finished with 3 wickets as we held off Terling to win by 12 runs. An incredible team effort where every run, wicket and fielding effort counted. It’s been a difficult season but finishing on this high will gloss over the pain, physical and mental, to bring us all back next year. With a 1s win as well, it’s been a great end for the club.🏏

Cake ready for the last 🏏 tea of the year