All Tied Up !

‘Brook skipper Kane Messenger won the toss and elected to bat first and his decision was vindicated as teenage openers George Godfrey with a sparkling 46 and Ted Ivory (10) gave the hosts a solid start. Jordan Calverley (22) maintained the tempo before an alarming middle order collapse saw the home side slump from 101 for 1 to 106 for 5 as Fahad Hossain (4 for 50) made hay with the ball. Afzal Hussain arrested the slide with an entertaining 31 and joined by his captain Messenger set about rebuilding the innings. Messenger led by example with a mature unbeaten 46 playing the perfect foil to Mahummad Attuallah (AJ) who thrashed 10 fours and 3 maximums, in accumulating 91 from only 43 balls, before being run out by Noman off the final ball of the allotted 50 overs.

After tea, the visitors came out all guns blazing and went for their shots from the off. Abdullah Noman struck a run a ball 53 and Juwel Roy supported with 43 as NEO kept pace with the required run rate. Seamer Daryl Forward’s three wicket salvo swung the balance in Goresbrook’s favour and both left arm spinner Livash Ramduth and Messenger bagged a brace of victims apiece as ‘Brook enjoyed a purple patch with the ball. Shumon Sharif (73 not) and Din Islam ( 63) combined in a splendid partnership of 126 and in a drama drenched finish, Attuallah’s economical last over saw the game conclude in an astonishing tie with both sides closing on 280 for 7.

Goresbrook 1st 280 for 7 in 50 Overs (19 points) tied with NEO 1st 280 for 7 in 45 Overs (15 points)