Easy win at the seaside

Goresbrook's third XI won at a canter at the seaside on Saturday afternoon. The long trip to Burnham saw the visitors return with a full 26 points as Richard Williams returned from parental duties to skittle the home side out for just 54.

Burnham won the toss and elected to bat first and were soon in trouble as excellent fielding from Alfie Atkins led to the run out of Jenkins with Lee Jones expertly breaking the stumps. King fell three balls later as he edged Jones behind to Robinson who made no mistake and Jones got his second wicket to leave Burnham reeling on 3-3 when Agawal drove him to mid on where Jackson took and easy catch.

When Williams bowled Shipman for 9, Baylis for 1, Silvester for a golden duck and Hand for no score within a two over blitz the home side were in serious trouble at 13-7.

Skipper Gillham removed Williams from the attack and gave Under 15 Bobby Granger his 3rd XI bow. The left arm spinner has been in wonderful form this season with nine senior wickets in the 4th XI to add to his fifteen for the under 15s. Bowling in a similar style to Sulieman Benn, Granger was soon rewarded as his trademark delivery that drifts in and straightens up was too good for the experienced Campion who was comprehensively bowled.

The home sides own youngster Green frustrated the visitors with a 21 ball unbeaten innings ably supporting May who started to play some shots as his team mates fell all around him. Williams returned late on to dismiss the keeper batsman for a fine 35 out of the home sides 54 all out. The Yorkshireman's bowling effort saw him return an all bowled 5 for 6 from 7.5 overs, including, just as importantly for the notably frugal seamer, 6 maidens. Indeed there were only 2 scoring strokes off Williams's bowling, the batsman sniffing out the weak link in the Goresbrook field by crashing a boundary through backward point past the immobile Jo Wilkinson in the gully, who at least improved on his previous week's effort by waving his arms and suggesting the ball was closer to Matty Jones at square cover.

Tea included a solid selection of sandwiches and savouries and ample fruit plus a wide selection of cakes. The tea score was bolstered by way of the buttered french stick that was accompanied by a large wedge of smooth brussels pâté that was overlooked by some and devoured by others.

Harry Jackson opened the batting alongside Keith Friend and the pair steadily opened the innings against Green and Silvester. The pair soon got into their strides though with Jackson looking to play some of his more expansive shots. The sixteen year old started to find his form as his innings progressed and he hit a series of fine boundaries as he closed on 36no. Friend meanwhile was more watchful as he finished unbeaten on 10 as he supported his younger partner.

Goresbrook regain second spot from Tillingham who surprisingly lost to Old Southendians but Gillham's men remain behind Great Baddow by nine points. All to play for in the second half of the campaign.