Seconds impressive at Brooklands

THE Bramhall second team batters avoided the usual first game pitfalls in their game at Brooklands and put together an impressive display.

Ellie Mason looked in control until she decided to test the catching skills of the Brooklands closer fielders. Dropped on both the first two balls of the over, it was third time lucky (or unlucky) on the fourth ball of the over, as the keeper clung on.

Ed Daber also looked fairly fluent until he fell to the temptation of Chris Moore’s loopy left-arm.

At 87 for 2 after 30 overs, Bramhall looked set for a reasonable score. Stuart Stoneman, next in, had different ideas.

He proceeded to flay the bowling to all parts of the ground, finally falling for 81 off 58 balls. Chris Heppell and Tom Mason followed, keeping the scoring rate healthy, albeit pedestrian compared to Stoneman, with the final Bramhall total reaching 233-4.

Throughout the innings Alex Hunt batted calmly and sensibly, scoring his first 50 for Bramhall, and ending up on 68 not out.

After three overs of their innings, Brooklands were up with the required scoring rate, but thereafter the torpor set in. Gavin Tomlinson removed both the openers before Bramhall unleashed their spin attack.

O’Gorman put up most resistance for Brooklands, with a steady 35, before becoming the first of Hameed Ahmed’s two victims with his nicely flighted leg breaks. Tom Drury, at the other end, made Chris Moore’s loopy left-arm look positively rapid, but ended up with four wickets.

Hashim Maan took his first wicket for Bramhall seconds, but with Joe Gill showing number 8 is too low for him to bat, and Chris Moore being stubbornly defensive, Bramhall were unable to take the final wicket required for victory.