2's inflict first defeat on leaders

Goresbrook’s 2’s put in their best performance of the season to inflict a first defeat of the season on leaders Writtle, closing to four points behind the Chelmsford club at the top of Division Two.

The 2's imposing total of 257-7, on an excellent M&B pitch was based around a fine 71 from opener Craig Irving and then when Irving fell with the score at 138-5, 19 year old Stuart Greaves hit an outstanding 88* off 68 balls to take the game away from Writtle. The Oxford Brookes student played watchfully before exploding into life in the final 10 overs, as with good support from Billy Chapman, Goresbrook added 92 runs as the Writtle bowling and fielding started to fall apart with Goresbrook finding the boundary with regularity.

‘Brook closed on 257-7 and appeared to have the game in the bag after Craig Ivey (4-42) put the brakes on the Writtle response after a flying start when the visitors obviously talented top 4 looked to put the pressure back onto the bowling side. However from 100-5, Writtle’s number 6 James Dillon played an outstanding knock, hitting 84 to give his side a sniff of a chance. Wickets kept falling at the other end however, with veteran Lawrence Walsh keeping his nerve to take 4-52 and with 31 required from the final 4 overs and just one wicket left, Walsh took a sharp caught and bowled to finally dismiss Dillon, Goresbrook running out victors by 29 runs in an excellent advert for Division Two cricket.