Goresbrook III v Redbridge Parks I - Essex County Cricket League - Div 2

Goresbrook thirds entertained Redbridge Parks at The M&B Annex Ground on Saturday and were forced to take the field when home skipper Jo Wilkinson lost the toss. With the temperature in the thirties, Bradley Winsley’s three wicket salvo gave the hosts the ideal fillip, but Usman Aslam (43) and Khizar Zaman (42) were the mainstays with the bat as they boosted their side to a competitive total. Joe Barwick, Craig Ivey and Ben Irving bagged a brace of victims apiece and Atif Ali chipped in with a single scalp as the home attack fought bravely to clinch maximum bowling points, pegging the visitors at 193 all out.

After tea, Tahir (3 for 18) and Harpinder (3 for 27) had Goresbrook reeling but a defiant 7th wicket partnership of 122 between Ben Irving and Bradley Wisnley put ‘Brook back in the mix. 15 year old Irving demonstrated a maturity beyond his years fashioning 5 boundaries in a superb knock of 65. Winsley capped a fine all round display with a polished, unbeaten 51, finding the rope four times but ultimately running out of partners as the Dagenham outfit came agonisingly close to victory with ‘Parks securing the spoils by 11 runs.