Perfect ten for Ivey's men

On a day when thunderstorms were forecast, unbeaten Goresbrook 2s welcomed Galleywood 1st XI to the still not quite May & Baker Eastbrook Community Club ground. One of those storms, as it happened the only one that actually turned up, sent down a heavy deluge mid Saturday morning, so it was therefore something of a turn up when the visitors won the toss and decided to bat on a sticky wicket.

Goresbrook's opener Joe Barwick made an early breakthrough with his floating delivery bamboozling batsman Silk, who holed out to Bryan Atkins at backward point with the score on 5. However this was the only early success, as the bowling of Gaymer was a little erratic, so skipper Craig Ivey turned to the control of veteran Walsh’s intelligent spin.

With scoring being limited as Barwick and his pacier co-bowler put the ball in the right areas, Delatt and Raymer had moved the total on to 37 before Delatt became Barwicks 2nd victim by chipping to the gazelle like Atkins at backward point again.

At that stage, Captain Ivey never afraid to lead from the front, must have sensed Barwick was tiring (maybe his classical left arm looked to have dropped in delivery) so he replaced the auburn marauder (2 for 36) with himself and promptly ripped the heart out of the opposition taking 4 for 20 in a devastating 8 over jug avoiding spell.

Ivey is in many ways the anti-Richie Williams (although they have similar jug avoiding habits) as Richie's ideal spell in this league would be the same delivery 72 times (back of a length, off stump, nipping back) whereas Craig's would be 72 different deliveries. On this occasion, Ivey's variety of cutters, slower balls, seamers, full bungers and bouncers, proved as irresistible as a barmaid to Kane Messenger on the tacky surface to all bar Galleywood's number 3 Raymer, who held firm scoring 50 which included some sturdy cuts & pulls as team mates fell around him.

The tiring Walsh was replaced with in-form spin of Billy Smith, fresh from 6 wickets in the 3's last week and Smith continued to keep control from the factory end, while Ivey bagged his 4 for at the other end.

The switch from experience to youth was ultimately seen to be correct, both because Walsh was able to walk off under his own steam after being eased off after 8 overs, and then when Smith having bowled his first 5 overs for 24, subsequently went on the rampage taking the last 4 wickets for 7 runs in 4.3 overs of fizzy spin including the prize scalp of Raymer for 60. Galleywood's innings closed on 135, a tally that is rarely enough at M&B.

In reply Goresbrook were always in control with the inform Joe Curley & Jordan Harris (sent down to the 2s by club capt, Kurt Whisker to find some fitness & form) adding 74 for the 1st wicket.

Harris departed for 21 before really hitting his straps, which did at least give him time for an extra protein shake, which brought in swashbuckler Bryan Atkins to join Curley. Curley reached his 50 from 43 balls including twelve 4s before holing out to Edwards for 56 and where Curley left off, Atkins picked up, as he hit a brutal 36 from 20 balls including two 6s & four 4s before holing out to Cove with the total on 120.

This left Keith Friend & Billy Chapman to see the still Invincible's home in only 23.3 overs for their 10th victory in as many completed games, both doing so in their usual fashion, which for Chapman involved hitting the 2nd and 4th balls he faced for 6.

Skipper Ivey said after the game “We only need 2 more wins to confirm promotion which is a great effort at such an early stage of the season. I have a nice balance of youth & experience in this side and was pleased with the excellent form of young Billy Smith returning to the fold. Joe Curley continues to knock on the first team door as he's scoring runs for fun at the top of the order and in Bryan Atkins and Billy Chapman we have middle order men who can pile on the runs quickly."