2s sneak home as Mumtaz stars again

Goresbrook's second string battled to a second successive win against Broomfield I, Craig Ivey's men making heavy weather of an 80 run chase after Qaiser Mumtaz followed his 5 wicket haul at Purleigh with the amazing figures of 7-4-7-6 to decimate Broomfield's batting. Mumtaz came on first change following a tidy spell from Joe Barwick, who took 1 for 20 from his 7 overs, the flame haired flinger having added a yard of pace in the off-season meaning his away drift has evolved into a distinct swerve.

Barwick's opening partner Daryl Forward was in the midst of a fine spell of his own, the lanky seamer picking up 3 for 32 as Broomfield advanced to 64-3 with few indications of the carnage to follow once Mumtaz went to work. The right armer clean bowled 3 victims and pinned 2 lbw before Charlie Thompson held the last man, Broomfield's final 7 wickets falling for just 16 runs.

The visitors posted just 80, but any idea the 2's might of had of following the 3's into the bar with a straightforward win were quickly scuppered, as on a less than ideal M&B pitch, the wickets soon started to tumble. The 2's lurched to 50-5 and then 68-8, with only skipper Ivey reaching 20 as Cowell took 4-33 and Turner picked up 2-11 for the visitors. Ultimately they were indebted to the cool head of the evergreen* Lawrence Walsh who nudged, hurdled and then hoiked the remaining runs required in tandem with Daryl Forward, both men doing well to hold their nerve given the disconcerting sight of Goresbrook's remaining batsman, the ruby topped rabbit, padded up on the sideline.

The 2's are the early pacesetters in Division 3 and they travel to the tight confines of Herongate on Saturday where the batsmen will get a quick opportunity to find some form safe in the knowledge that they will get full value for their shots.

*a moment's pause for the first evergreen reference of the new season