Winsley's men weather the storm

Goresbrook 3rd's grabbed a first win of the season in a calm and collected manner at a surprisingly dry Smallgains Park on Canvey Island on Saturday.
Skipper Bradley Winsley won the toss and inserted Canvey. Despite bowling into a near gale force wind Owen Elsom (1-30) found his line straight away and removed the experienced Mark Stratton in the third over. Canvey's second wicket pairing of Peter Luker and Matty Snowden then built the huge majority of the home innings putting on 90 over the next 35 overs. Bradley Winsley (2-35) battled gamely with a full 12 over spell into the wind finally bagging two victims in his penultiamte over including Snowden who had reached 54. Lee Jones (0-15) and Atif Ali (0-19) both bowled tidy spells for no reward. Canvey looked to increase the run rate in the last ten overs but came up against Ben Irving who bagged 5 wickets for 20 runs in wet and windy conditions, especially in the last two overs. Credit must also go to the fielders who clung on to every chance afforded them. Martin Rooke and Dominic Gurden both taking 2 catches, Matty Jones the other. Canvey totaled 130 from their allotted 45 overs.
The brief shower at the end of Canvey's innings seemed to ease the pitch somewhat and Atif Ali and Aaron Scott battled carefully, picking off easy singles and putting away the bad ball. Ali was first out for 25 to one that kept low. Charlie Thompson came in at 3 and joined Scott in a partnership that looked to have got Brook home but Scott was bowled 4 short of a half century. Dunston Alfred pulled out of a drive and chipped an easy catch to mid on but not before Thompson (41) lofted a maximum over mid wicket. Matty Jones joined Thompson in the canter past the finishing post for a 7 wicket win.
Canvey maintained the impression that the sportsmanship of this league is but one of its many attributes.