Six Smith

Goresbrook 3's took their winning streak to 4 games with a straight forward victory against 9 men Canvey Island.
Bradley Winsley lost the toss and and quite surprised to be asked to bowl. On a soft pitch, Owen Elsom 0-16 and Daryl Forward 0-17 bowled well but with just a half chance spilled at mid on to show for their efforts. After 16 overs Winsley brought himself on and introduced Billy Smith at the other end. With an attacking field Smith broke the defence of the hitherto impeccable Matthew Snowdon, who had hit 3 maximums in his innings of 23, forcing him to play on. Peter Luker fell soon after to a fine one handed catch at slip by Paul Lowe when a Winsley delivery bounced much higher than normal and Peter Cook played a dud when he spooned a return catch to Winsley who ran some 20 yards to his right to take it one handed. Smith then tore through the Canvey middle and lower order, extracting turn and prodigious bounce from the drying pitch, to finish with figures of 6-18 from 10 overs.
Canvey Island 88 all out
Billy Smith 10-2-18-6
Bradley Winsley 10-2-29-2

Brook's reply was steady, with veteran openers Paul Lowe and Andy Livett hitting the bad ball and picking up singles as required. The score had reached 43 when a fierce drive from Livett was deflected onto the stumps by Gary Snowden and Paul Lowe, having no time to react, found himself run out for 17. This brought Jo Wilkinson to the crease. He smashed his first ball for a four through long off and then rotated the strike with Livett to see Brook home by a nine wicket margin, Livett ending up undefeated on 39 with 7 boundaries and Wilkinson 19* with 3 boundaries.
Goresbrook 89-1
Andy Livett 39*
Paul Lowe 17
Jo Wilkinson 19*

A special mention must be made for Canvey stalwart, 69 year old Gary Snowden, who was playing what might prove to be the last game of his illustrious career. Gentleman Gary is due to have an important operation on Tuesday and if this game does prove to have been his last, it is fitting that he was the undefeated batsmen, smashing Billy Smiths hat trick ball for four; and that he had a hand, literally, in the only wicket to fall.
Should Gary not set foot on a cricket pitch again then he will be sorely missed, not only by his club but by the whole cricketing community.