2s crash to Taverners

Goresbrook’s second string suffered defeat at the hands of Noak Hill Taverners, skipper Craig Ivey possibly rueing his decision to invite the visitors to bat on a warm afternoon as Goresbrook failed to overhaul the visitors relatively modest 204.

Noak Hill took advantage of a fine 2nd wicket partnership between Roger Bayley (48) and ex-Chadwell Heath all-rounder Alfie Hedges (70) to put the Goresbrook bowling under-pressure and it took the introduction of the spinners to reign back the run-rate after the dishevelled drifter took a bit more punishment than usual in an opening 'burst' of 6 overs 1 for 26.

First Bayley was run-out and then Billy Smith bowled Ali first ball to leave the visitors 104-3 and then the introduction of Lawrence Walsh saw wickets tumble regularly, the wily leg-spinner recording his second five wicket haul of the month as Noak Hill were dismissed in the final over for 204.

Walsh's introduction, with 31 overs already bowled is in keeping with his new role as 'death specialist' and whilst it may be a questionable strategy to introduce a proven wicket taker that late in proceedings, there are no complaints from the evergreen Walsh, well rested after an average of 1.38 days at work each week for the past 2 months.

Walsh has a history of plundering the 'prime time' in the latter overs when batsmen are keen to advance the score and the man once nicknamed 'Linvoy' and 'Optimus' added 5-37 to his club record tally of wickets here, following 7 wickets against Stock in the previous home game and he continues to pull away from the General in such regal fashion, that even if hamstring transplants were available on the NHS, it's unlikely that the big cheese has enough in the tank to get anywhere near him now.

In reply, Goresbrook started slowly with Mark Bird (19) hampered by a broken finger, being outscored by his veteran partner Andy Livett (22). By the 20th over the required run rate had started to approach 6 as Brook were meandering at 64-4 after Ivey and Billy Chapman followed the openers back to the hutch, both men struggling to recapture last year's prolific form in the higher division, however 16 year olds Charlie Thompson, who made 51 and Harry Jackson (31) came together for an enterprising partnership after 18 year old Ben Irving hit 20 to kick-start the chase. Unfortunately all three batsmen were run out in the increasingly desperate search for quick runs and their dismissals were critical, as Goresbrook literally ran out of batsmen in the 43rd over, the hosts dismissed for 185 still requiring 20 runs from 14 balls for victory.

Brook remain second in Division Three with a big clash against 3rd placed Purleigh on Saturday where they will be without Bird's tekkers, the right handed opener having broken a finger trying to hold on to a catch off Joe Barwick's bowling.