2's take promotion race to final week

Goresbrook’s second string took their promotion hopes into the final week with a comfortable victory over their Great Baddow counterparts. Half centuries from Lawrence Walsh (64) and Livash Ramduth (59) in a partnership of 122 for the 2nd wicket set up a score of 218-6 that could have been at least 25 more had any of the Goresbrook middle order hitters found form.

The Goresbrook total only looked in danger however for a brief period during which the visiting captain Scott played fluently for 36 and in tandem with Nuttall added 50 in quick-time for the 3rd wicket. The introduction of spinners Ramduth and Brad Winsley paid immediate dividends however, both men extracting turn and bounce to run through the Baddow batting. Winsley picked up career best figures of 6-19, provoking a catastrophic collapse from the visitors as soon as he got his paws on the ball, leaving afficianados of spin purring as he maintained a solid feline and length throughout his spell.

Ramduth also bowled an excellent spell taking 2 for 19 as Baddow were shot out for 108, most of the Goresbrook catching being from the top drawer to support the bowling, the exception being Richie's throwback to Stort about 10 years ago as he shelled a slow motion catch at mid-wicket, temporarily depriving Winsley of his 5 wicket haul.

Goresbrook remain in 3rd place and with 2nd placed Tillingham unlikely to trip up at bottom side Herongate, Brook must beat 4th placed Noak Hill to hold on to their 3rd spot, which with league reshuffles in the offing, may be enough to see them move up a division.