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

Goresbrook continued their strong end to a frustrating season with a comprehensive defeat of Asian Cricket & Sports Club at Low Hall Farm.

After losing the toss and being sent into the field, medium pacer Kane Messenger and 15 year old left arm spinner Shane Barwick wreaked havoc amongst the home batting picking up 3 wickets each as Asian collapsed after a respectable start, losing their last 5 wickets for just 6 runs to be rolled over for just 83.

Earlier Asian had started positively in the face of pacy opening bursts from Israel Ochwo and Richard Williams, with the ball regularly flying about above head height on what most teams believe to be the most bowler friendly surface in the league. The Asian top order looked to play shots and although 'Brook picked up two early wickets, the hosts were proceeding at nearly 5 an over.

The introduction of Barwick’s slow left arm bowling put the brakes on however and after he picked up two wickets in two balls, Messenger chipped in from the other end, picking up two lbw verdicts as the visitors gained the ascendancy. When Jordan Harris effected a sharp run out from mid-wicket, the Asian innings was in complete meltdown and a fine stumping from Billy Chapman completed a stunning collapse in just the 26th over of the innings.

If the visitors were expecting a comfortable passage to victory, the hosts opening bowler Amit Ashok soon showed that it would be anything but, as he tore into the Goresbrook batting. Jordan Calverley departed for the third successive duck, followed immediately by Bryan Atkins for the same score and when Afzal Hussain and Kurt Whisker could only manage 6 runs a piece, Goresbrook were in deep trouble at 22 for 4.

Fortunately Jordan Harris has been the saviour for his side on numerous occasions this year and the diminutive right hander survived a first ball scare when he was dropped at second slip to hit a composed unbeaten 27. The star of the show however was Adam Ivey, promoted from the 2nd XI for the first time this season, Ivey played a fine attacking innings, full of his trademark sweetly timed shots through the off side to see Goresbrook home in the 18th over. Ivey finished on 36 not out as the final 30 runs came from just 15 balls, as the hosts ran up the white flag with some loose bowling.
Goresbrook remain in 4th place in the Premier Division of the Essex County League although they have an opportunity to leapfrog 3rd placed Scintilla when the sides meet in the final league game of the season next Saturday. Goresbrook also have a home cup semi-final against Ford Sports on Bank Holiday Monday and victory would likely set-up a Borough derby against Barking CC in the final at Loughton on September 15th.