1's rely on Shane as they finally avoid the rain

The 1's breezed to a comfortable win over Rettendon on a fine M&B Club wicket, Shane Barwick taking the starring role with 5-26 as Rettendon were bowled out for 194 and then scoring an unbeaten 57 as in tandem with his skipper Kurt Whisker who made 67* Goresbrook passed their opponents total after 36 overs.

The visitors had earlier won the toss and elected to bat and Rettendon got off to a bright start as their skipper Chris Huntington took the attack to the Goresbrook bowling. Israel Ochwo was taken for a few early boundaries before the paceman hurried Huntington on a pull shot and the ball looped up to keeper Harris, the captain departing for 21. Ingram (24) and King (16) also chipped in before wickets started to fall with Shane Barwick’s introduction into the attack. The left arm spinner took two early wickets, but Rettendon looked on course for a decent total as they advanced the score around Carl Lees, who batted steadily for an unbeaten 43. Unfortunately after decent contributions from Wall (17) and Castledine (27), when Castledine was 5th man out, bowled by the returning Ochwo, the remaining Rettendon batsmen surrendered in quick time, the bottom 5 mustering just 6 runs between them as Ochwo claimed 3-62 from his 10 overs and Barwick returned to mop up the tail for his 5 wicket haul.

On a true wicket with a speedy outfield, the Goresbrook batsmen were confident of chasing the runs at the tea break and Joe Curley started positively hitting 28 before being held at slip off the left arm medium pace of Collins, who sported the finest beard to grace the M&B club since the Williamson family were last in attendance. From thereon however, the Goresbrook batsmen had few alarms as Barwick and Whisker whittled down the total assisted by 44 extras as Rettendon bowled with maximum effort, but little guile or ability to stem the flow of runs. Whisker finished unbeaten on 67, batting sensibly with only a few inside edged attacking shots betraying the fact that he’s struggled for form on occasion this year. Barwick looked positive from ball one and looked in excellent touch as he completed an excellent all-round performance with an unbeaten half-century of his own.

After two successive games against Rettendon, Goresbrook move on to a third meeting this season with Old Chelmsfordians next Saturday, before catching up their game in hand on the rest of the Premier Division with a third game against Rettendon in successive weeks, this time at their Church Lane ground on Sunday 17th July.

Victories in both games would leave the 1's well placed in third with 7 games remaining, but Whisker's men will need to play much better than their last visit to OC's on the Saturday and will need to continue to dismiss Huntington cheaply on the Sunday, as he's reached the stage where he's overdue a few...