Cricket round-up: Brentwood’s good run halted by Hadleigh...

HADLEIGH & THUNDERSLEY...201-7

(Hadleigh won by three wickets)

(Shepherd Neame Essex League Division One)

After two consecutive league victories, Brentwood were brought back to earth, by narrowly losing to third-placed Hadleigh & Thundersley in an enthralling match on Saturday.

Brentwood batted first and eased their way to a total of 200 for six declared. Their top scorer, yet again was Micky Davis who is enjoying - in both senses of the word - his best-ever season with the club.

Saturday's excellent innings of 70 not out took his average in league matches this season above the 70 mark, a noteworthy statistic in this standard of cricket.

Good contributions were also made by Danesh Kayani (46) and Danny Hazle (25) in what was generally a good batting performance.

When Hadleigh batted, Davis chose not to take the new ball, and it looked at one stage as though the gamble would pay off with Danesh Kayani (4-102) and Richard Whitehall (3-49) making regular inroads into the batting.

However, Hadleigh's Neil Barry (65 no) kept them in the game, and they squeezed home in an exciting finish with three wickets in hand and one over to spare.

Brentwood's overseas player, Danesh Kayani, was playing his last game of the season before returning to India.

Brentwood will sorely miss this hugely-respected and popular figure, one of the real gentlemen of the game, not just for his considerable contribution on the playing-field, but also for the wider part he has played in the club's activities.

Brentwood second team consolidated their position at the head of the league table by completing the double over local rivals Old Brentwoods, but it was a close-run affair.

On a batsmans paradise at the Old County Ground, the Old Brentwoods openers put on 164 in quick time before the first wicket fell (John Nash making 106 and Andrew Szczuka 79), and a score well in excess of 250 looked in prospect.

However, Paul Lattimore (4-84) and Paul Drummond (2-58) put a brake on the scoring, before the Old Brentwoods declared at 238 for seven.

When Brentwood lost two early wickets, both for ducks, their chances of victory looked slim.

However, they always have hope while Stuart Fomes is at the crease; and he did not disappoint with a commanding innings of 80.

With Paul Drummond (44) again showing what a good all-rounder he is, and Dave Murphy contributing a valuable 33, Brentwood's hopes were kept alive; but it took an intelligent innings of 31 not out off 21 balls by Paul Larner to see them home in the last over of the day.

Brentwood third team, occupying third place in the table, beat South Woodford by 30 runs.

Brentwood declared at 175 for eight (Dave Berry 48, Phil Howlett 37, Baryy Davis 24, Dean Goddard 22), and then dismissed their opponents for 145.

Tony Prior was again to the fore with three for 11, supported by Rob Coote (3-27) and Jame Apicella (2-55).

Phil Howlett, the hard-working club chairman was back in action - and among the runs - after a pre-season injury.

Brentwood's fourth team, having completed their league programme, entertained East Ham Corinthians in a friendly.

The visitors made 240 for six (Alan Houston 3-3, Suman 2-23), with Brentwood scoring 197 for five in reply (Ken Hobbs 53no, Jim Lingwood 37, Alan Houston 36).

This Saturday (August 28), Brentwood first team are away to Westcliff, while the second team host Old Parkonians in a Shepherd Neame Essex League game (1pm start).

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.