After last week’s washout, Emmbrook were back at home in their quest for the championship title against third-placed Braywood at Lowther Road . Under cloudy skies, Braywood won the toss and elected to bat on a lively-looking pitch and a very short boundary on one side. Right from the start, the Emmbrook opening bowlers Tom Stevenson and Jamie Middleton were extracting some high bounce and plenty of sideways movement from the new ball. Braywood held out until the fifth over when Greg Davis held onto a good catch off Middleton. Middleton struck again with his final ball in his next over, trapping the Braywood number three in front of his stumps for 0, 26-2.
Stevenson now joined in with two wickets in the tenth over, Braywood now in trouble at 28-4 .
Braywood were recovering, with a stand of 30 when Davis took a stunning catch off David Healey, 58-5. Davis now entered the attack and with an outstanding spell of 4-14 off five overs, the innings being wrapped up with another well-taken catch from Andy Lazenbury, Braywood all out for just 88.
Emmbrook now had their turn on the very unpredictable batting track.
First out was Matt Loxton for 15 of just ten balls, nicking off to the wicketkeeper,18-1. Davis now joined Ollie Williams at the crease, with both riding their luck with the high bounce, Williams finally falling for 19,again caught behind with the score on 46-2.
The game now turned on its head as first stylish batsman Andy Lazenbury going first ball, Andy Robertson also going for 0 ,Sean Woodward for 4 and captain Jack Narraway lasting just two balls when another high bouncing ball saw the Braywood keeper taking his fourth catch of the innings, Emmbrook now rocking at 56-6, still 33 runs behind and Braywood smelling an unlikely victory.
Enter all-rounder Middleton into the arena, who in just 12 balls smashed his way to 25 with three 6’s and a 4 , in a seventh wicket match-winning stand of 36 with Davis 26 not out, with Middleton ending the game with a massive 6 to give Emmbrook victory by four wickets.
The result moves Emmbrook 82 points clear of second place Penn and Tylers Green, with the two teams clashing in a title showdown in two weeks at Lowther Road