1s survive collapse to beat OCs

Goresbrook got their Mid-Essex Premier Division season off to a winning start in an extraordinary game against Old Chelmsfordians. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Brook skipper Kurt Whisker fell early on to OC's paceman Rob Wickham after fellow opener Charlie Thompson had gone for a duck in the 2nd over.

However from 16-2, the hosts recovered as Joe Curley and Jordan Calverley added 56 for the 3rd wicket. Curley looked at ease in his return to 1st XI colours, stroking a fine 37 from 49 balls and with Calverley setting himself for a long knock at the other end, the Goresbrook innings flourished even after Curley was caught and bowled by Ahmed, as Calverley rode his luck to add 85 for the 5th wicket with Shane Barwick before he was finally bowled by the returning Wickham for an excellent 76 from 99 balls.

At 157-4, with 6 wickets still in hand and 7 overs remaining Goresbrook would have been looking to kick on towards 200, however the remaining batsmen could only last a further 15 balls. First Wickham completed an all bowled hat-trick as Toby Maund and Kane Messenger had their stumps rearranged first ball and then after OCs other new ball bowler Bird returned to account for Barwick for 32, Wickham astonishingly clean bowled Friend and Ochwo with the first two balls of his next over and required only 3 more deliveries to pin Billy Smith lbw for 0, the innings closing on 164 all out.

Wickham's final analysis of 7-17 showed the value of bowling straight with pace to new batsmen, many of whom hadn't yet had any time in the middle in the 2016 season, however as many a football commentator has noted, the Goresbrook batsmen will be disappointed with their technique...

With only 164 to defend, Goresbrook needed early wickets against an OCs batting line-up hat they dismissed for less than that in the equivalent fixture last season and although the visitors dealt well with the threat of Israel Ochwo with the new ball, Curley continued his excellent day by running out Ahmed with a direct hit from the boundary.

Buoyed by some excellent fielding, the Goresbrook bowlers never really let OCs into the game, as although McNeil dug in for 32, Kane Messenger and Shane Barwick blew away the middle order with 3 wickets a piece, Curley taking two catches and this, combined with another runout from Harris, left OCs reeling at 70-8. All that remained was the reintroduction of Ochwo to apply the final nail into OCs coffin with the last two wickets, Goresbrook running out winners by 60 runs.

Whisker was delighted with his side's response to their batting collapse and pleased to open the campaign with a win,

"After losing 7 for 7 it would have been easy to feel sorry for ourselves, but I thought we were excellent in the field and never let them into the game. Kane Messenegr and Shane Barwick in particular were excellent with the ball. I also felt Jordan Calverley along with Joe Curley and Shane batted very well on a pitch that was very difficult to score on once the ball went soft, a real early season slow, low wicket. Two good partnerships got us to a decent score, it's a shame we didn't have a third to get us a few more bonus points, but I take my hat off to Rob Wickham. It's not very often you take 7-17 and lose..."