You win some...you lose some!

Haverhill lost the toss and took to the field on a wet and slow track. A late withdrawal by Mark Radford left the Haverhill opening bowling attack weaker than previous weeks which presented Joe Woodley (4-0-29-0) the opportunity to step back into the opening bowling slot. Joe bowled with pace and good length however a number of aggressively hit sixes was soon to dampen the bowlers enthusiasm.

Skipper Rob Sullivan’s strange last second change to remove himself from the attack and open with off spinner Adam Dellar (6-2-29-0) almost paid off .Joe Reid hit a chance to the skipper at backward square that he then dropped, a difficult chance but he got a full hand to it. Brockley like most sides this year got off to a flying start before Sullivan (10-0-61-1), re-introduced after the Adam Dellar gamble then struck removing Reid for 45 with a well taken hard hit catch to Joe Woodley at Mid-Off. 

Martin Wilkins (6-0-30-0) also provided some tight bowling but like the bowlers before him even the slightest stray in line or length was punished.

S Youngs (9-1-39-5) provided a brilliant caught and bowled which seemed to split Brockley’s frail batting line up open. Simon then continued to apply pressure through his persistent line and the wickets began to tumble. Brilliantly supported at the other end by Dan Poole (6.3-0-34-3) who has picked up a yard since we last saw him and his bowling to the set field was superb.

Brockley 10 for 229

A poor start to Haverhill’s innings Dave Godwin (8) and Neil Winter (10) both dismissed early applied the pressure to the middle order. Rain interrupted play late in Brockley’s innings, which didn’t make it smooth sailing for the Haverhill batsmen batting on a wet, skidding track. Simon Youngs (22) once again looked solid however played around a straight delivery that bowled him. Adam Dellar (124) achieved his first senior ton with little regard for the conditions or the quality of the bowling. He started off scratchily however once in full flight there was no catching him, literally. He hit the ball hard, timed it well into gaps, ran hard and did everything you would expect from the No. 4 and more. Adam had shown so much promise and has started to deliver. He batted out the innings with some late support from Martin Wilkins (4 N.O), a cracking pull for four from Phil Dingley (9) and more signs of his all rounder, power hitting status of Dan Poole (15).

Haverhill 8 for 220

Captain Says:

Another game that we should have not lost. As skipper I need to take a cold, hard look at a few areas that need attention. It was almost like the team wasn’t switched on and that we just went about letting the opposition post another 200 plus score. We did brilliantly with the bat but on the field we went to sleep and let the opposition drive home every advantage. As a team and as skipper responsible for such results we could have done more.

How many of us are guilty of being insular and self-centred and being far to busy analysing ones own performance or lack of it to forget that the team is bigger than any one individual. I sometimes suffer from this when bowling. I get so absorbed in my performance I sometimes shutdown, an old trait that I have battled with since taking on the captaincy. The best outcome I have found when supporting your fellow player is that when the cards are down, when you have been hit to ever corner of the park, or you have just dropped a catch the team is there to support you. A word in your ear, a gesture, a pat on the back is sometimes all that’s needed to bring you back and ready for the next opportunity. Insular, self-centred ideals don’t belong in a team sport.

Luckily we only have isolated moments of this nature. What we need to do is eradicate it all together.

In response to Mr Sean Spearman’s letter 14^th June. Bodyline 1930s.

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