Brook up and running

The club’s 2016 Season began in positive fashion as we came out marginal victors in an excellent pre-season work out against Bishops Stortford's 2nd string.

Bishop’s Stortford’s outstanding Cricketfield Lane Ground (home of Hertfordshire and Essex 2s) was in excellent condition given recent weather conditions and skipper, Kurt Whisker didn’t hesitate in opting to bat 1st on what will no doubt one of the better pitches the team will play on this season.

Before the scheduled start time, the players of both sides joined together for a minutes silence in honour of the recently departed Les Bird. Les was a keen follower of the Club before his passing and the gesture was particularly poignant for Les’ son Mark Bird, who was in the Goresbrook XI, a side comprised of a mixture of likely 1st & 2nd XI players.

The match itself started in circumspect fashion with Skipper Whisker (50 ret) and his opening partner, Charlie Thompson re-acquainting themselves with outside (and arctic) conditions. Before long, the early season nip in the pitch accounted for Thompson as he played on for 7. No.3 Joe Curley (26) joined his skipper at the crease and the languid, silky haired right hander felt his way into proceeding as Whisker began to up the gears on his way to a solid 50 before opting to retire in order to allow other batsmen an early season run-out.

Mark Bird replaced his skipper at the crease and was positive from the outset, jumping around the crease in decisive fashion on his way to an entertaining 49. Unfortunately for Bird, he fell agonisingly short of what would have been a memorable and commemorative half-century for the Bird family. The fall of Bird initiated a typical Goresbrook collapse which accounted for Jordan Harris (2) and Craig Ivey to a 1st ball duck! Thankfully, Toby Maund (22) and Lee Ramduth (12no) guided the visitors to a competitive total of 193 from 45 overs.

Stortford responded well in response with Mel Hussain, providing a star turn on his way to a 50 retirement. He was ably supported in an opening stand of 88 with Gilband (20) as the hosts looked in command. ‘Brook’s attack was hit with the early withdrawal of 17 year old Harry Jackson who suffered a twinge to his knee, which brought paceman Israel Ochwo into the attack earlier than planned. In partnership with Daryl Forward (0-20), the pair dried up the run rate somewhat and whilst Forward bowled with good discipline, Ochwo (1-31) bowled with excellent pace given the arctic conditions in an entertaining dual with the Stortford openers.

It took the introduction of left arm spinner Lee Ramduth to provoke the 1st break-through, with keeper Harris effecting a very tidy stumping off of a wide delivery, in what in all honesty was quite a wide dismissal all round. Ramduth and Toby Maund’s spin continued to keep the pressure on the home side with Maund picking up 2 wickets at the death to swing the balance in the visitors direction.

Stortford skipper Felstead (28), assisted by Wacey (25 no) then seemed to have wrestled the contest back into their side's favour before an excellent last over from Craig Ivey (who picked up 2 wickets) ensured that Goresbrook ran out victors by the narrow margin of 4 runs.

Whisker commented: “it was great to get back out on the field, despite the unusually low temperatures. I thought we batted with good intent and set a decent total for an early season match. It was also a great day for Mark Bird and it was a privilege for us to be able to honour his father Les who was a great man. He certainly would have enjoyed Mark’s knock! It was important for the bowlers to get some miles in their legs and everybody played their part on the day. A few areas came to light which will need some work in the coming weeks – but that’s the whole point of pre-season, both sides will have got plenty out of the game.”