3s slump to defeat

Goresbrook's 3rd string slumped to defeat to relinquish top spot in the table on Saturday at the stunning setting of Woodham Mortimer. Skipper Gillham lost a crucial toss and the away side were asked to field on a roasting afternoon.

With a young bowling attack and veteran fielding side Goresbrook made an early breakthrough as Gillham himself bowled Glasson with a superb early yorker. Further chances came and went though as Gillham found the edge on numerous occasions but each time the ball raced away to the boundary or through gaps in the slips or those in Joe Wilkinsons hands.

Itihas Adama bowled well from the other end although he didn’t cause any undue concerns for Smith who was absent in the early season encounter between the two sides when Brook prevailed by 196 runs. Gillham finally removed Roper for 13 in the 9th over with another ball of high quality that was unplayable.

Smith and new batsman Hayman though then set into attack against the tiring Adama and fellow under 14s Alfie Atkins and Nirbhey Bist. Both of whom bowled well but the experience of Smith saw him dominate. The right handed batsman played very well offering only limited chances as he moved on to his half century. What chances did come weren't taken as edges off Matty Jones were not taken and lofted shots fell between multiple away fielders.

Jones bowled well in his ten over stint, the part time spinner curtailed the scoring at one end but didn’t receive the neccesary support to build pressure at the other as Hayman started to play some attacking shots and race to his own half century.

Hayman and Smith put on an excellent 141 for the third wicket before Gillham returned to bowl Hayman for a fine 67. The home side's Aussie skipper Beames fell shortly after as Jones earned a reward for his hardwork with Adama taking a solid catch and the young bowler then got himself a wicket as Andy Livett made up for an earlier drop with a diving catch at long off.

Smith reached his ton late on with a series of hard run singles that the wilting away side couldn’t stop and Gillham grabbed his fourth wicket with a breathtaking caught and bowled chance to remove Collis.

The home sides 243-6 eclipsed their previous highest score of the season by some 80 runs as Goresbrook were given the run around.

Following a steady tea Jones and Tommy Puncher set about starting the chase but exhausted by a rare 10 over stint, Craig White's stunt double didn’t last long as he was bowled by Sam Older for no score. Livett was next in and the veteran and Tommy Puncher batted very well scoring at the required rate as Mortimer's fielders started to quieten down in the field following a raucous start. The partnership passed fifty but the introduction of Glasson reaped an early reward as Puncher holed out to Beames at mid-off for 27.

Keith Friend was next in and out. The normally studious batsman uncharacteristically played an early attacking shot to the short boundary and was caught by Beames. That brought Jo Wilkinson to the crease and the silver topped swashbuckler looked to rebuild with Livett, but the tight bowling of Glasson and Collis stifled his natural attacking prowess and he was caught by Roper off Collis for a 13 ball duck.

Keeper Robinson and Livett started to pressure Collis and Glasson and they put on 46 for the fifth wicket in a stand that saw Livett reach his 50 before Robinson (19)was bowled by left arm seamer Joe Older who had just been introduced into the attack. At 142-6 and 102 needed from six overs Gillham joined Livett and he was soon into the runs with a series of controlled slogs through the cow corner area.

Livett eventually fell though, stumped off the bowling of Trippathi having lost his balance trying to play a big shot. The wicket keeper had also fallen over but he comically threw the stumps down as Livett scrambled in vain to make up his ground. 'Marvs' 72 was excellent in the context of Brooks innings.

Gillham continued to attack and reached a fine 33no whilst seeing both Atkins, Adama and Bist cheapily give their wickets away as the away side were bowled out 64 runs short of their target.

With three tough games against Tillingham, Hatfield Peveral and Great Baddow to come in successive weeks Goresbrook must improve otherwise they'll soon find themselves pushed out of contention for the league. Rumours abound that skipper Gillham may look to rotate his pack in the next week to freshen up his side after a rare defeat.