Lowe scores high in Brook win

A much changed third eleven travelled the long distance to Barry Hearn's country retreat on Saturday to take on East Hanningfield and Great Burstead at the Matchroom Sport Arena, Great Claydons Farm. Having finally found the ground following a rural post code final destination search the Brook players marvelled at the purpose built facility and aroma of fresh cooking pastry emanating from the pavilions kitchen.

Brook made several changes from the previous week with Richie Williams and Joe Curley returning to social action whilst Harry Jackson and Bobby Gaymer, following his previous weeks heroics, being restored back to the second XI. Ricci and Billy Parnell, Paul Lowe and Dunston Alfred were called up from the 4th string as a result.

Winsley won the toss and elected to bat on a fair looking wicket and opened with wily veteran Paul Lowe and the talented Ben Irving. The two set about the innings in a mature way, Lowe playing every ball to its merits while Irving showed a great deal of maturity following an early few swings and misses. The scoring rate was steady if not spectacular as Hanningfields opening bowling pair produced a contrasting spell of deliveries.

Kotian from the southern end was wayward and runs came freely from the bat and from wides whilst Patel bowled five maidens on the trot from the other end. Irving was heeding the advice of Lowe and being patient whilst facing Patel while the two of them sent several Kotian deliveries to the fence. At 88 for no loss at drinks and the steady Patel now bowled out home skipper Linahan turned to the spin of Bed and Smith who were played with ease.

Irving was now firing and sent a barrage of lofted straight drives down the ground only just missing out on the maximum as the stiff breeze held the ball up. Irving however fell shortly after passing the half century mark as he looked to accelerate the scoring rate further. One big hit too many was taken at long on after Linahan had finally decided to bring himself on to replace Bed. The opening stand of 112 was just what was required on the batsman friendly wicket.

With Lowe playing his anchor role to perfection Dunston Alfred came to the crease and played himself in with just a single from his first dozen deliveries. He soon set about Smith though and an explosive shot straight back towards the veteran spinner and caught him straight on the hand ending his days play. Its still not known how this blow to the hand could have effected his eyesight for a run out chance whilst Hanningfield were batting later on in the afternoon.

Dunston soon got going and started to time the ball well. Little flicks for four were commonplace along with some devastating hitting over the hedgerows for six. Dunston survived a scare in cow corner though, a big hit was superbly caught one handed, diving backwards by the excellent Paoletti but the Hanningfield fielder was unable to stop his momentum and fell back over the boundary as Alfred registered another six.

Lowe meanwhile was the epitome of patience as every Portsmouth fan has learnt to become and he duly reached his fifty and continued to support Alfred and add some more attacking strokes to his play. With the pair motoring Linahan started to lose his cool and shrieks of 'how… was… that' and 'catch the bloody ball' were to no avail as Alfred completed his half century with a four.

Lowe finally fell for 82 being caught at long on looking to reach his century before the overs ran out, a fine innings from 117 balls in 130 minutes. Promising Adi Kumar was next in and played himself in with a cut through point for four and he and Alfred secured maximum batting points before falling late on to Linahan and Goodie respectively.

Alfred totalled 62 runs from just 44 balls in his excellent innings with three maximums.

The warm sausage rolls were not a disappointment alongside the cheese equivalents and the selection of sandwiches was too everyone's delight. Highlights were the scones although the addition of clotted cream would have increased sporting marks to at least nine.

With honorary Yorkshireman Gillham Snr opening the bowling with Khondakar, Brook set about defending 234 with Hamilton and Linahan opening for the hosts. Hamilton had soon thumped Gillham for a couple of fours before Khondakar bowled him with a delivery that pitched in towards the right hander in the fourth over, again showing his ability to be playing consistently in the 3rd XI.

Linahan and Goodie steadied the ship though for Hanningfield and were taking quick singles at will of the Goresbrook attack with the odd boundary thrown in. Winsley changed the attack and brought Atkins on to replace Gillham and the change worked a treat three balls later as Goodie drove straight to Irving at mid off who held on to a sharp chance.

Fine fields-man Paoletti was next in and he and Linahan had the visitors work hard in the field and were keeping Hanningfield up with the required rate. Some very close lbw decisions were turned down before Paoletti was seemingly run out with a Gillham/Gillham combination. The decision was not given by Smith at square leg who's hand injury was seemingly impairing his vision.

The partnership was on forty when Winsley replaced Atkins with himself shortly after drinks and immediately the switch paid dividends. A quicker delivery was edged and Gillham Jnr took a good catch standing up. The dismissal was only confirmed when Linahan sportingly walked with the umpire debating what decision to give.

Paoletti was joined by Patel and were beaten on a regular basis by Ricci Parnell who has developed an extra yard of pace over the close season. Steaming up the hill the adept seamer was moving the ball away at will as the Hanningfield batsman played and missed. Parnell was bowled out by Winsley and his nine overs for 34 were scant rewards for his effort.

On what was now evidently a superb batting surface the Brook fielding had to be spot on and it was. Khondakar, Billy Parnell and Kumar were everywhere chasing the ball down and stopping ones being turned into twos and saving boundaries with top level dedication to assist in keeping the run rate rising.

With Hanningfield target now just 100 from 10 overs and Paoletti and Patel set, there was some small concern that Hanningfield could pull off an excellent chase to take the points. This fear was ended in the following over though, a Winsley delivery was smashed high by Paoletti towards cow corner and as the Matchroom Arena faithful were about to celebrate a boundary the younger of the Parnell's set himself and took a superb catch to effectively end the contest.

Patel was joined by Warren who didn't have the power or panache to score the runs needed and although the pair survived the rest of the innings Patel's superb knock of 54no was in vain as Goresbrook maintained their unbeaten start to the Trippon season.