Late show delivers another win for the 2's

Brook’s second string were never really challenged by visitors Woodham Mortimer and maintained their record as the last undefeated side in all 12 divisions of the T Rippon league. The visitors won the toss and invited Goresbrook to bat, a decision that looked sound based on the weather forecast, but which backfired somewhat on the basis that Goresbrook had much the better of the conditions in both innings.

Brook survived the early loss of skipper Craig Ivey to prosper through Craig Irving (69) and Keith Friend (72) before Bryan Atkins (44*) and Billy Chapman (57*) made a mess of the visiting bowling figures with some late hitting as the ball became slippery in the light rain, taking Brook to 258-3 and maximum batting points.

In reply Shaddai Smith bowled with good pace to reduce Woodham to 20-4, a spell that effectively ended the game as a contest, but then a heavy shower threatened to abandon the game. A spell of sunshine and copious quantities of sawdust saw the players back out onto the pitch, although it would be fair to say that the sides differed somewhat on their view as to whether the wicket was playable. Either way, it’s to Woodham’s credit that they saw out the overs, denying Goresbrook the final bowling point, the game finishing at 8.55 with Woodham on 102-9 after Brook’s slower bowlers rattled through the overs in order to bowl their 45 over quota.