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

Barking moved into pole position in the Essex County Cricket League Premier Division with a remarkable victory over neighbours Goresbrook. On a pitch drenched by early morning rain, the game started an hour late and was reduced to 35 overs per side, Goresbrook skipper Kurt Whisker winning the toss and electing to bowl.

That decision looked well founded as seamer Richard Williams ripped through the Barking top order with the new ball, bowling Bajwa and then having King and Afzal caught at slip by Michael Rooke and Imran Butt caught behind. At this point Barking were reeling at 30 for 4, with Williams having taken 4 for 11 from his 7 overs and only skipper Sharn Shafiq was standing firm for the hosts.

The regular tumble of wickets continued as Lawrence Walsh held onto a sharp caught & bowled chance to dismiss Shafiq for the game’s high score of 23 and then Bryan Atkins dismissed Saeed and Mitchell. It took a late partnership of 30 between Hassan and Saddique to shepherd Barking towards 100, however spinners Toby Maund and Shane Barwick wrapped up the innings in the final over for just 98, a score that nine times out of ten would be chased with few problems.

Barking’s bowlers were intent on making this the 10th occasion however and Imran Butt tied the batsman down from one end whilst Saddique dismissed Whisker for a duck and then followed up with the scalp of Craig Irving to leave the visitors at 20 for 2. At this stage Toby Maund was looking reasonably comfortable, but it was clear that the pitch hadn’t eased at all and that every run would have to be ground out.

Unfortunately for Goresbrook once Maund went for 17, unlucky to be given out to a catch that Saeed appeared not to have under control, the remaining batsmen had little idea how to score and most were becalmed for several overs before playing a rash shot. In fairness, the Barking bowling and fielding was excellent, but the visitors frail batting certainly contributed to their own downfall as ‘Brook were shot out for 56, with Saeed ending with the outstanding figures of 5 for 10 as batsmen queued up to hit him to Ehsan Afzal at long off, Afzal making up for his first ball duck with three catches.

With long time leaders Scintilla falling to defeat in another low scoring game against Newham, Barking move 9 points clear at the top of the table and a first ECCL title is now a distinct possibility for the Mayesbrook Park men.

Goresbrook skipper Whisker was dismayed by his side’s batting performance in a game that could have catapulted his side back into the title race. "The wicket was undoubtedly very difficult to bat on, but getting bowled out for 56 is unacceptable even at Under 11 level. Our batting has failed repeatedly this year and we need to put some work in over the winter to improve this. It’s no use complaining about the pitches, they are bowler friendly for six weeks in a normal year and we usually limp out to a mediocre start before kicking on when the wickets firm up, so it’s about time we sorted this out.”