“He’s going to be a real star.
“He played Snater as well as anyone could have. A lot went past the bat [early on] but he didn’t panic, he timed his innings perfectly, but he will be disappointed not to kick on and get an even bigger score. But he did a really good job for the team and set up the innings.”
Having passed 300 for the second game in succession, courtesy of big contributions from Kashif Ali (80) and Jake Libby (70), the Rapids got to the halfway stage in the ascendency.
Fateh Singh (2-38) and Brookes himself, (3-52) ensured that the visitors were restricted to 220-7, before the tail was cleaned up 60-runs shy of the necessary target.
Having shown his qualities with the bat already this year in the Rothesay County Championship and the Vitality T2o Blast, Brookes once again highlighted his importance to the side with a blistering half-century, before taking three crucial Essex wickets on his way to another inspiring performance.
The 24-year-old was delighted with how the bowlers in particular applied themselves, after a frustrating display away at Notts Outlaws on Thursday.
“We were pleased with our total. We thought it was on par, though we knew it was a good batting wicket here, the outfield is very quick, so we were very happy with 340, but we knew we would have to take early wickets and bowl well as a group.
“Credit to the bowlers, I thought we bowled very well. They got off to a good start in their innings and we were behind the game a little bit and then we took some good wickets.
“Fats bowled well in the middle and got us some key breakthroughs. Everyone did their bit.
“Thursday at Notts almost felt like a loss, so to put it right in this game, everyone is very pleased.”