Siraj the master blaster

Goresbrook 3's continued their fine start to the season with a comprehensive victory against Ardleigh Green and Havering atte Bower 5ths at Old Brentwoods on Saturday.
Owen Elsom won the toss and asked the experienced pair of Andy Livett and Martin Rooke to open. Once the pair had gotten used to the bounce of the artificial strip they made good progress against a youthful home attack and took the score to 85 before Rooke was bowled for a hard grafted 23 in the 16th over. Alfie Atkins, Michael Wilson and Daniel Parnell all came in to support the evergreen Livett but fell in quick succession to leave Brook 126-4. However this brought Siraj Zafar to the crease and after being dropped in the deep, he proceeded to hit out , racing to 50 from 35 balls, making Livett's own 50 off 56 balls look pedestrian. Livett selflessly gave Zafar as much strike as possible whilst himself continuing to accumulate and Zafar reached a maiden century from just a further 19 balls with 11 fours and 9 maximums. Even after reaching his milestone Zafar hit a further 13 from the final over to help Brook close on an imposing 289-4 with Livett not out on 93 having hit 13 fours and a multitude of singles. The partnership of 163 set a new club 5th wicket record beating the 154 set ten years before by Billy Chapman and Ben Irving.
Brook were soon among the wickets and there were braces for Zafar, Ben Atkins, Ricci Parnell (in his first spell for 4 years) and Mafi Chaudhary and wickets for Owen Elsom and Grace Wood. Two smart stumpings by Michael Wilson and catches by Elsom, Zafar and Daniel Parnell completed a solid performance in the field.
Brook are on the road again next week with a visit to the Parmiters ground to play Walthamstow 5ths.