Goresbrook I v Barking I - League T20 Cup

Goresbrook’s defence of the ECCL Twenty20 title that they won in 2010 & 2011 lasted little over 2 hours of the 2012 competition, as the Dagenham side slumped to an 18 run defeat in the first round against a Barking team who they had thrashed by 93 runs ten days earlier in the league.

‘Brook’s bowling and fielding was close to its usual high standards in restricting the Mayesbrook Park outfit to 121-8 from their 20 overs, with Michael Rooke taking 2 for 12 from a fine 4 over stint and Israel Ochwo chipping in with 2 for 9, however familiar frailties with the bat undermined what at one stage had looked to be a comfortable chase.

Jermaine Shillingford with 40 and former skipper Anthony Odle with 28 lead the way for Barking and as neither of the visitors leading scorers had played in the league defeat it was a more confident Barking side that took to the field to defend what looked like a decent total on a soaking wet wicket.

Initially, Goresbrook looked to be in control, with Toby Maund and Michael Rooke starting positively and then Adam Ivey and Bryan Atkins taking the score onto 71-3 at the midway point. Unfortunately just as Goresbrook were looking to power home, Atkins pulled a hamstring and was run out and then the ‘Brook batting disintegrated in a mixture of farcical running and disciplined bowling from Mahmood and Shillingford.
The irrepressible Shillingford, a former Barking Colt who now plays on Saturdays for Frinton-on-Sea in the Two Counties league, picked up 3 for 10, wrapping up the game by bowling Ochwo in the penultimate over, his closing spell capping a fine bowling and fielding performance from the Lodge Avenue based club.