Broomfield overrun by Ivey(s)

Goresbrook’s second string put a couple of bad performances behind them with a good win at Broomfield to move level with Purleigh in the second promotion slot in Division 3. A disciplined bowling performance was the basis for the win, with the Goresbrook bowlers not letting the home batsmen get away despite a fine unbeaten 86 from Phil McIntosh for the hosts.

McIntosh, an Aussie who was studiously ignoring the regular updates from the Test match toiled away for virtually the entire 45 overs having entered at the fall of the first wicket, but only keeper Baines offered much in the way of support with a well struck 26.

The Goresbrook opening bowlers as ever demonstrated that there's more than one way to take the new ball effectively, Shaun Ross charging in for 8 lively overs 4 maidens 1 for 22, figures that could easily have been a couple of wickets better and Joe Barwick shuffling through for 6 overs of passive aggressive away drift, taking 1 for 26, his spell curtailed slightly by some loose deliveries as his less than fluid movement was further hindered by his increasing requirement to visit the toilet.

The copper cavalier eventually wandered off the visit the latrine at the first drinks break, emerging 10 minutes, 2 cigarettes and 2 overs later looking slightly more at ease, by which time Richie Williams was well into his 10 over spell. Inspired by Mark Wood's entrance to the Test team and a calf injury....Williams cut his 'run' down to a couple of strides and rattled through a trademark spell of 10-3-24-0. In tandem with Livash Ramduth, who made a very welcome return to GCC colours for his first league game in 3 years, the former 1st team opening bowling combo put the squeeze on the Broomfield batsmen in the middle overs, Ramduth producing the more than respectable figures after such a long lay-off of 10 overs 1 for 37 bowling left arm spin.

With the overs starting to run out, the wickets stared to tumble and skipper Craig Ivey was the main beneficiary, picking up 4-29 with his mix off medium pacers and off-cutters. The Shark has struggled with a back injury this season and has been elbowed out of the prime-time rotation by the club's all-time collecter of late innings freebies, however on a warm afternoon with the competition at Ascot, Ivey smelt blood in the water and he had too much for the Broomfield tail, who couldn't get to grips with his changes of pace. At the other end Harry Jackson picked up a wicket bowling quick and straight and although McIntosh saw his side through to the close, the suspicion was that 179-9 might be 20 or 30 runs shy of a par total.

So it proved, as the Goresbrook chase was built around a patient unbeaten 58 from opener Aaron Scott, the tall right-hander batting throughout the innings to see his side home. More aggressive support was offered by 16 year old Charlie Thompson who opened with a stylish 36, full of off side shots and questions to his partner, however the innings threatened to stall following the introduction of a couple of experienced line and length bowlers. The veteran duo soon established that Scott's scoring options of the front foot were more limited than the supply of pizza slices at tea after Skippy had piled seven onto his plate first up, and the ensuing umbrella field shut down the chase for 11 overs, during which time Brook added 10 runs. However fortunately help was soon to arrive at the other end in the shape of the Ivey brothers.

Backyard cricket matches between Adam and Craig must have lasted for several days, given the need to retrieve the ball from next door's garden after every other scoring shot and the pair, who hit quickfire knocks of 29 and 36 ensured that the run rate was increased in the nick of time. Adam, another man making a first league appearance for several years, kept superbly and hit the shot of the day, a beautiful drive over long-off which was the biggest six of the day until his brother hit one over the pavilion an hour later. Adam fell caught on the midwicket boundary, not for the first time in his life and then Craig all but saw his side home before falling in exactly the same way, not for the first time etc. etc. leaving Dunston Alfred to march to the crease intent on finishing things in as few shots as possible.

The powerful St Lucian's first ball was drilled back at the lively returning opening bowler at such velocity that anybody brave or foolish enough to try to field it was likely to suffer some damage. Unfortunately, the Broomfield opener was from the Shaun Ross school of full blooded commitment and his attempt at taking the return catch resulted in him having to leave the field with what we subsequently found out was a broken thumb. Best wishes for a full recovery to him.

With the game slipping away, the Broomfield fielding and bowling dropped a notch and the remaining runs were knocked off with the help of 4 byes, some more Scott nurdling and an Alfred boundary, Brook getting home with 15 balls to spare.

A word for the tea at Broomfield, comfortably the best of the season, featuring as it did a cheese and cold meat selection (4 cheeses, 3 salami/chorizo varieties) with French bread, chicken nuggets, pizza (before Skippy demolished it), onion bhajis, pork pie and a selection of cakes and biscuits including the often neglected banana loaf.