Wanstead captain ready for big game against Brentwood

The defending champions host Brentwood at Overton Drive on Saturday, having lost heavily at Hornchurch last weekend, before beating Sudbury in the ECB National Club Championship a day later.

And Ellis-Grewal is hoping they can build on that success – which earned them a home tie against Mildenhall on May 28 – back on home soil.

“Brentwood is another big game for us and hopefully we can bounce back [from the Hornchurch defeat],” said Ellis-Grewal.

“It was a good toss to win and I think whoever won would’ve bowled first.

“It was wet, the wicket and outfield, and we started well with Eshun [Kalley] and Zain [Shahzad] up top.

“If anything it was doing too much. The batters were playing and missing by some distance.

“But George Hankins batted beautifully. It was a really good knock. He went after the spinners and it came off and changed the game.

“It gave them momentum and the last 15 overs it went away from us.”

Hankins hit an unbeaten 112 from 79 balls to lead the hosts to 251-4 and Wanstead slipped from 60-2 to 78-7 in reply.

Ellis-Grewal (24) top scored as they were dismissed for 128, adding: “We knew 250 was a really tough score to chase but we started well, scoring 47 off the first seven overs I think.

“But as the wicket dried out it just started doing enough and their seamers bowled well.

“We had a bit of a collapse as the run rate went up and it was a shame we couldn’t show a bit more fight but it was one of those days. We had a bad day and they had a really good day.

“It was the first game for a couple of weeks and we were all a bit rusty.”

Ellis-Grewal was also without three key men on the day, but welcomed two of them back against Sudbury.

“I was missing three top batters with no Kish [Velani], and Robin [Das] and Simmo [Tom Simmons] only available for the National game on Sunday,” he said.

“You can afford to lose a league game at this stage, it’s not the end of the world. It was a good eye opener for us. It’s a tough league and it’s hard to win games.

“We were brilliant against Sudbury, a good East Anglian Premier League side. The way we bowled and fielded was phenomenal.

“Everyone chipped in with the ball to get them all out for 85 and we got them for none in about 12 overs.

“Ali Zeb is only 15 and had a couple and Haaris [Usman] batted brilliantly and took the attack to them. It was nice to get that bounce back.”