Walk on by

Goresbrook 3's returned to the Annex on Saturday with a battling defeat to Boreham 1's.

Batting first Brook got off to a good start with Darren Johnson 29, and Ted Ivory 34, adding 64 against an accurate bowling attack. But a flurry of wickets meant skipper Billy Parnell had to start rebuilding and his 42 was the mainstay of the home innings. Other than good assistance from George Godfrey with 18, the tail failed miserably with the murderers row of Owen Elsom, Joe Barwick and Bobby Granger at 9, 10, Jack troubling the 3's official scorer for just 5 balls and 2 runs (both to Granger).

Brook finished on 158 all out, a score probably 20-30 runs short on a good pitch (which on a dry day the Annex is heading back towards) and in reply Boreham got off to a quick start as Goresbrook's bowlers failed to maintain the correct line and length to put the batsmen under pressure. Although Owen Elsom was typically parsimonious leaking 14 runs from his 5 overs, Joe Barwick and George Godfrey were milked for 6 an over and although the pumpkin (slow medium) paceman nabbed a brace along with Sulieman Granger, the wickets did little to stem the flow.

It was only when Parnell introduced himself into the attack that the Boreham reply began to falter. 2 wickets in 2 balls for the skipper and one for Lee Jones (who as ever with the Germans is picking up is starting to peak around the World Cup) meant there were two new batsman at the crease, but those two knuckled down and ensured, with a rate of just 1 an over required, that they only needed pick up any morsel available to see the game home. And so it came to pass, as like Biffa at the tea table in the late 90's, all morsels were devoured efficiently and with the minimum of fuss, Boreham winning by 3 wickets with 14 overs to spare.

Parnell lead a spirited fightback but Brook's troops should have the nous not to put themselves in such positions in the first place.

In an encouraging development given the spate of reports around falling standards of behaviour in the recreational game, the match saw two batsmen walk, one from each side, without waiting for the umpires decision, which is always much appreciated by those pressed into action in the white coat.