No Homer comforts against Springfield

Mid-Essex Premier Division leaders Springfield eased past Goresbrook by 8 wickets at M&B Club, the hosts’ batting struggled to break free of the stranglehold achieved by the Chelmsford side’s spin bowlers, which lead to Goresbrook setting an inadequate 140-9 from their 45 overs.

After winning the toss, skipper Kurt Whisker elected to bat on a slow, damp track following heavy midweek rain and despite the early dismissal of the captain, Goresbrook advanced to 61-1 behind some watchful batting from Craig Irving (33) and Kane Messenger (27). However the introduction of Springfield skipper Lee Brooks and spin-partner Wasim Khalid had made run-scoring more difficult and as the Goresbrook batsmen looked to accelerate, the Springfield bowling and fielding was more than up to the task.

Khalid bowled Messenger and then after 8 dot balls, this season’s in-form batsmen Jordan Calverley hit his 9th delivery to mid-off to depart for a duck to Brooks. The visiting skipper then promptly withdrew himself from the attack and replacement Matt Chalk ran through the middle order, dismissing Irving and Shane Barwick, both holing out at long on and Afzal Hussain who nicked off to the keeper. At 81-6, Goresbrook were reeling and only a battling 38 not out from Jordan Harris salvaged a total of 140 from the wreckage, Goresbrook limping to 140-9 from their 49 overs, with Brooks returning to pick up another couple of wickets and seamer Ovel rearranging Shaun Ross’s stumps.

To make any headway, Goresbrook needed early wickets, but they found Pollinger in obdurate mood, the Springfield opener has a reputation for big-hitting, but playing the situation and pitch well, he took 23 balls to get off the mark, as Frost played most of the shots at the other end. Having seen off the new ball, Pollinger then came out of his shell crashing Billy Smith for two sixes and it wasn’t until the 21st over that Goresbrook found a breakthrough, Shane Barwick bowling Pollinger for 22. Springfield keeper Mani Singh followed immediately, hitting Kane Messenger straight up in the air, to be well held at mid-on by Shaun Ross, but unfortunately that was that for the hosts and Frost batted very well for an unbeaten 76 and the experienced Jim Symonds punished the bad ball well for 33* as Springfield overhauled Goresbrook’s total in the 39th over.