Shepherd Neame Essex League Premier Division
Chelmsford 161-8
Brentwood 190-7
Match drawn
CHELSMFORD managed to hold on to secure a draw against title chasing Brentwood on Saturday.
The visitors won the toss and opted to bat first on a warm humid morning at Chelmer Park after the start was delayed by 52 minutes due to light drizzle meaning the game was reduced by 14 overs.
Anthony Hill made an early breakthrough removing opener Tom Oakley (four) caught behind on with the score on seven, followed by a wicket from the other end on 36, Ben Clifford having Dave Hammond (16) also caught behind.
The opening attack was rested as the temperature began to climb out in the middle and Chelmsford turned to spin in the form of Tom Craddock and James Clifford and both took wickets early in their spells to reduce Brentwood to 60-4 after 22 overs.
However Chelmsford's hopes of building upon this promising position wilted as it grew ever hotter and Aaron West and James Redwood (30) combined in a stand of 59 in 23 overs.
From 119-5 Brentwood's middle order upped the tempo and gathered 71 runs off the last 12 overs to reach 190 -7 from 57 overs, with West finishing on 69 not out. Craddock (21-4-63-2) and James Clifford (20-3-81-2) both bowled long draining spells.
Chelmsford had at least 49 overs available to get the runs and made reasonable progress to reach 53-2 after 19 overs. Jack Sterland joined opener Dan Hagen, and with both playing very positively, 75 was added in 15 overs.
At this stage, with 63 required from 15 overs and eight wickets in hand, both sides were beginning to think that Chelmsford were odds-on favourites for the win.
Alas, the partnership was broken when Sterland (38) offered a tame catch, having again looked in outstanding form. Chelmsford's batting frailties of this season resurfaced and Hagen could only watch the comings and goings at the other end as Chelmsford slid to 155-7 in the course of nine overs.
When Hagen (67) was eighth out at 159, all hopes of the win evaporated and the ninth wicket pairing of Ben Clifford and Stuart Everard had no option but to block out the last five overs surrounded by close fielders to secure the draw and deny Brentwood. For the visitors Max Osborne took 4-37, and Ian Belchamber 4-26.
Brentwood take 12 points and Chelmsford 8 which means that they drop into the bottom half of the Premier Division.
