2's stay up in final day washout

Goresbrook’s second string secured division two status on the final Saturday by equalling Rayleigh II’s result, as what was shaping up to be an excellent game against Bentley II was washed out when rain hit the M&B Club around 5.30pm.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat and after a slowish start against some good new ball bowling from skipper Friend, a big partnership between Ollie Gordon with 89 and Ash Parmenter (65) saw Bentley threaten to get a score in excess of 250. Parmenter was just starting to cut loose when he was snared at the start of a fine spell from 15 year old spinner Adi Kumar, the right hander lobbing one up to keeper Irving as he looked to the hit the ball into Romford.

Gordon had battled through a tricky spell against Richie Williams, the ageing seamer finding plenty of bounce and movement, but no outside edges, as Gordon played and missed repeatedly. The left hander ultimately won the war, putting away a couple of boundaries to hit the tiring veteran out of the attack and then feasting on Ben Irving's occasional 'spin' to hurry towards what looked like a potential ton.

It wasn't to be however, as Kumar bowled him through his legs, the u15 also taking a stunning return catch as he finishing with 4-49 to be much the pick of the bowlers, as in tandem with a tight spell from O’Neil McDowell, the 2's reigned Bentley in in the last 10 overs to 233-6, by no means a huge total on the quick scoring Annex ground.

The 2's response was proceeding well at 55-1, with Craig Irving unbeaten on 34, including a massive six off Flack which saw District Line passengers ducking, but then the rains came, denying the participants what looked like a competitive finish. However once confirmation came through that Bentley 1's had started their celebrations back in Coxtie Green and Rayleigh II had also been rained off in pursuit of 285 against Little Waltham, both sides were happy to hit the bar and start planning another Division 2 campaign.