Scintilla v Goresbrook I - Essex County Cricket League - Prem Div

Goresbrook left themselves with a mountain to climb in the second half of the season if they are to defend their ECCL crown as they slipped to a 5 wicket defeat at unbeaten leaders Scintilla. The defeat left Brook 27 points behind the Walthamstow based side and although leads can dwindle quickly given that there are 20 points available for a win, the business-like manner in which Scintilla approached their run chase didn’t suggest a side that will throw away too many games.

Home skipper Ahmed Choudhury won the toss and inserted the visitors on what appeared to be a standard 2012 damp pitch and his bowler immediately backed up the decision with a disciplined early showing. Jordan Calverley was bowled for 7 and although Kurt Whisker and 16 year old Luke Read repaired some of the damage, runs were proving hard to come by.

Just as Brook appeared to be coming to terms with the pace of the pitch, Rafiur Rehman’s introduction into the attack sparked a collapse. Rehman’s off-cutters proved exceedingly difficult to get away and as the pressure mounted. Hasib picked up the wicket of Whisker and Rehman dismissed Michael Rooke for just 4. When Read’s stay was ended as he feathered a catch behind off the spin of Sumon Sharif, Goresbrook were in all sorts of trouble at 55 for 4 with more than 20 overs gone.

However, as on most occasions this season, Jordan Harris looked the only player capable of making runs on slow pitches and his battling 51 rescued the Goresbrook innings. Harris added 50 with Kane Messenger for the 5th wicket and although no other batsman made an impression after Messenger went for 19, Harris shepherded his side over 150 before being run out looking to get back on strike in the 42nd over. Brook eventually battled up to 161, a respectable but by no means secure total.

In reply Brook were in need of early wickets and Matt Friend obliged as he had Hasib caught at square leg, however after that it became a war of attrition as every Scintilla batsman sold his wicket dearly and although runs weren’t exactly flowing, Shahadat Miron dug in to anchor the chase. Michael Rooke trapped Siam lbw and then Kane Messenger had Sharif caught by his captain Kurt Whisker, but all the while Miron was steadily accumulating and the target was whittled down whilst wickets were retained for a late charge.

The required rate reached 5 an over before Scintilla pressed the accelerator, but when they did Bilal hit 18 from 23 balls before being spectacularly caught by Messenger of the bowling of 15 year old debutant Shane Barwick. That brought Kabir to the crease and he swung the bat freely, taking 16 off a Messenger over to effectively see his side home. Miron did eventually fall for 46 to a tired looking shot to Israel Ochwo, but by that time the game was won and Scintilla reached their target with 10 balls to spare for a 5 wicket triumph.

Barwick was the pick of the Goresbrook bowlers with a tidy 9 overs for just 24 runs, a superb effort on his Saturday first team debut, but although the Goresbrook bowlers made Scintilla work hard, they never really looked like taking the wickets that would have halted the home side’s chase.

Captain Whisker hailed his side’s effort, but acknowledged that his team were second best on the day, “I can’t fault the performance that we gave in the field, but whereas other teams have folded in the face of that pressure this season, Scintilla didn’t and they thoroughly deserved to win. The key thing for us is scoring 200 runs, when we do that we’re very difficult to beat, but so far this season 150-175 seems to be all that we’re capable of and sooner or later that wasn’t going to be enough.” “We get another crack at Scintilla on the last day of the season, but for that game to mean anything we now need to go on a long unbeaten run and other teams need to beat Scintilla. That’s not too far-fetched, as it’s exactly what we did last season, but we need to sort out our batting sooner rather than later.”