Harris & Stead shine in defeat

Walthamstow 2nds were boosted by a productive opening stand between David Portman (62) and Vijesh Moie (65) as they put the Goresbrook attack to the sword at May & Bakers Sports Ground on Saturday. Matthew Friend bowled ‘Brook back in to the match with an excellent spell of 4 for 49 and the probing spin of Billy Smith (2 for 48) and skipper Andy Livett (2 for 16) also wrought dividends for the hosts with Jordan Harris also bagging a scalp. Faheem Hassan’s late knock of 30 lifted ‘Stow to a mammoth 276 for 9 from the allotted 45 overs when tea was taken.

After the interval, Goresbrook suffered an early setback when Bobby Gaymer and Joe Curley departed cheaply but this brought 20 year old Jordan Harris and 16 year old Jack Stead to the crease, Harris found the rope on 19 occasions courtesy of an entertaining series of cuts and pulls punishing any loose offerings before being run out for a superb 110. Stead's trademark driving through the vee yielded a dozen boundaries and the teenager was left unbeaten on 95 with Jo Wilkinson (12 not) as the Dagenham outfit fell agonisingly 8 runs shy of their opponents total earning 9 bonus points in defeat.