Curley's 84 sets up Brook win

A strong looking 3rd XI took to the MABA on Saturday to face Old Chelmsfordians. Bobby Gaymer, Richie Williams and Joe Curley came in to replace the promoted Billy Smith, Keith Friend and travelling Lee Jones whilst Nev Atkins came in for Lord's spectator Mark Bird.

Following a brief delay for rain Chelmsford inserted Goresbrook to bat on a damp but firm surface. Gaymer, perhaps not in his most natural of positions didn’t last the first ball, leaving a gaping space between bat and pad, the ball skimming off the surface and bowling him middle stump for a diamond duck.

The early loss of wicket didn't faze Joe Curley and Harry Jackson and the pair promptly set about the Chelmsford openers. Following a series of crushing blows to the boundary Curley called for medical assistance for his hangover and the tablets seemed to work as the lanky right hander registered his fifty shortly after.

Jackson at the other end was enjoying himself too, revelling in the freedom provided by the sometimes wayward Heard and Brown before dispatching the latter for a huge six. He fell though for 35 to first change bowler Critchell while trying another audacious stroke after successive boundaries.

Kumar was next in and played his usual patient innings before driving Critchell and Gregory down the ground. The youngster backed himself one time too many though and was expertly caught by the excellent Grainger by one hand at long on.

Williams found it difficult to get used to the conditions on the back pitch and was at times in trouble from Kelly and Gregory. His promotion to the number five slot didn't last long and he was bowled by Gregory for eight. Irving came in and with the target now 225 for maximum batting points he looked to push on along with Curley, who was mixing the sublime and ridiculous as he normally does, including an attempted header off a beamer.

Curley finally fell just 16 short of his century and he was replaced by Gillham Jnr who was soon to become the Senior Gillham when joined by his father after Irving fell for twelve and Brad Winsley was dismissed for a quickfire 15. The two Gillhams were in tandem for the first time in their cricketing career and let the historians record that they put on an excellent two runs before Jnr was stumped, leaving Khondakar to score five in the brief time remaining as he pushed Brook past 200 to score four bonus points.

After peppered rice with cocktail sausages, roast potatoes, sandwiches washed down by cold water tea (switching on the urn is a cricket responsibility these days), captain Winsley opened the bowling with the first of his veteran bowlers Williams. Bowling from the Severed Leg Lake end the Yorkshireman bowled with consistent line and length as he grappled with Old C's opener Paton, whose scoring areas were definitely more rustic than he was used too, both Williams and fellow opener Khondakar being put away for four through the leg side. Williams finally got his man though with a quicker delivery that Paton tried to drive but only edged behind to Gillham Jnr who took the ball above his head. Williams closing with 9-4-19-2 in his debut at this level, a promising start...

Mcneil fell for just four as Khondakar tempted him in to a drive and he was fell caught by Ben Irving running around from mid on. Veteran Gillham Snr replaced Khondakar and his first over featured a diverse array of full tosses that were duly dealt with, until Rogers couldn’t cope with the worst of the lot and he could only slap to Khondakar at point who took the catch well. Williams then got his second as his Yorkshire speed accounted for Landers and suddenly Goresbrook were well in charge.

However, the dismissal of Landers brought Grainger to the crease, a left hander who is well known to some of the Goresbrook players following two games against the fourth XI last season and his hard hitting style was soon on show again. Gillham Snr was the victim, bowling too full and right into Grainger's slot and following two hefty drives for four Grainger dispatched Gillham at least thirty metres into the undergrowth to the south of the MABA.

Winsley brought himself on in an attempt to stem the runs as Grainger was punishing anything remotely offline but it was the last of the veterans Kev Atkins who made inroads and he bowled both Bruce and Bown in an excellent spell of bowling. He bowled with pace and precision as he executed some fine swing bowling that the Chelmsford pair simply couldn't cope with.

His third and final wicket was that of Grainger who was looking good and was the last remaining obstacle for Brook taking the winners points in this TRippon Division nine encounter. A full toss was hit with full force towards the covers but the excellent hands of Gillham Snr took a stunning catch to dismiss Grainger for a run a ball 47. Atkins finishing with a brilliant three for seventeen in his nine overs.

Khondakar was brought back on and got his second as Ben Irving again took the catch to get rid of Critchell and Adi Kumar showed his prowess in the field to run out Heard before he took a catch to dismiss Kelly off captain Winsley's bowling to seal an in the end comfortable 85 run win, Goresbrook's third string remain top in the early stages of the campaign.