1s come up short

Goresbrook came up short in an excellent game at Mid-Essex champions Bentley, a heroic innings of 70 from Shane Barwick, rallying his side from 62-4, was ultimately in vain, as aside from Kane Messenger’s 25, the Brook lower order couldn’t provide sufficient support to put pressure on the Bentley bowling and fielding.

The hosts had earlier won the toss on a gloomy day with showers forecast and after electing to bat Bentley got off to the worst possible start as Craig Ivey ran opener Ash Parmenter out in the first over for a duck. Three more wickets followed, with the recalled Shaun Ross dismissing danger men Phil Coleman and Tom Johnson cheaply and Toby Maund having the other opener Gordon caught behind for 28 and at 60-4, the door was open for Goresbrook to dismiss the champions cheaply.

That they were unable to was down to an excellent knock of 57 from Bentley number 6 Lewis Whiteley who played aggressively with support from a succession of lower middle order players who reached double figures before being dismissed before 20. As Goresbrook kept taking wickets, the hosts reached 165-7 and looked set to be bowled out for less than 200, but a late cameo from Glen Swinney, who hit an unbeaten 27 added crucial runs, taking Bentley to 212-8 from their 45 overs.

Ross with 2-30 and Maund 2-38 were the pick of a decent Goresbrook bowling and fielding effort.

The Goresbrook response got off to the worst possible start when skipper Kurt Whisker was run out for 7 and when Jordan Harris and Jordan Calverley followed quickly afterwards, their target looked a long way away. However Brook rallied with Joe Curley hitting a typically positive 35 (typical both in positivity and in not being more than 40) and Barwick shrugging off some indifferent form to play himself in with some sensible batting.

After Curley fell, Messenger joined Barwick to add a further 47, but with wickets continuing to fall, eventually Barwick had to switch to all-out attack, powering past 50 with a flurry of boundaries off Swinney. Unfortunately however, he was running out of partners and when Barwick finally fell for 70 to returning opening bowler Matt Coleman, the game was up, Goresbrook being bowled out for 183 on the 1st ball of the 43rd over.

The young 1's side must try to regroup for the visit of leaders Springfield next Saturday to avoid a third successive reverse.