Atkins on fire but fourth team lose

Thurrock 4 XI 94 all out (37 overs) beat Goresbrook 4 XI 64 all out (29 overs) by 30 runs

Goresbrook 4s travelled down the A13 to Blackshots in Grays on Saturday afternoon to take on Thurrocks 4th XI in a division 12 Trippon League match. Brooks 4th string have been in impressive form since losing the seasons opener against South Woodham Ferrers and a good performance was expected again.

Early morning storms failed in their bid to postpone the match and the pitch was dry and firm for the first time this season for the 4s. Following the withdrawal of Bryan Atkins in the 1s and subsequent reshuffling Danny Gillham Junior was recalled to keep wicket whilst Kaylan was promoted to the 3s. Darren Boland was also recalled, replacing Daniel Parnell who was on study leave.

Thurrock batted first in hot conditions and they couldn’t have got off to a worse start with Bates being trapped LBW by Qasir Mumtaz in the first over. Mumtaz was swinging the ball inwards from the very start and caused all kinds of problems and soon after bowled Kemp to reduce the hosts to 9-2. Kemp was completely caught out as Mumtaz beautifully disguised a slower ball, it looped and Kemp was through with his shot before he watched the ball come past and remove the bails. At the other end Gillham (Snr) stifled the scoring with a tidy if ineffective opening spell of 0-9 in six but could have had a couple of wickets himself but dropped catches cost him.

Mumtaz continued to cause problems without further success, finishing his opening spell with a terrefic two for seven in six overs with three successive maidens. Paul Atkins replaced Mumtaz and was soon being smashed to all parts of the ground, fourteen runs were taken off his first six balls, but his seventh was the important wicket of Oakley who looked in fine form.

Ricci Parnell started his spell and immediately found outswing, he found it hard to control at first, being taken for 13 in his first three overs before finally turning the screw and beating the bat on a regular basis. Parnell got his reward in his fourth, a fine delivery that was to good for Redmond, swinging away it removed off stump. Parnell's final five overs went for just two runs.

Meanwhile at the other end Atkins was only just beginning, bowling to the aptly named 'Bevan House' the big man bowled a selection of quicker and slower balls. It was a mixed bag but it didn’t allow any Thurrock batsman to settle. Bridger was next to go, an Elvis lookalike wielding a bat likened to half a tree (see Jo Wilkinson for details of the time his bowling was taken to Heartbreak Hotel in Bridger's Pegs days) he didn’t hang around. Every shot was full blooded whether he connected or not but he didn’t last long. Atkins shook him up with a slower delivery and as he stepped inches out of his crease young Gillham behind the stumps through them down, Bridger walked without waiting for the umpire to lift his finger, top sportsmanship.

Bill West didn’t last long, again Atkins finding the better of him, bowling him with a full pitched delivery before Plumb followed, caught in the deep by Gillham (Snr) to put the hosts on 69-7 off 24 overs. It was a rash shot given the amount of overs left in the innings, Atkins was now on four wickets from seven. Feeney followed making it five, for the first time in a while a Thurrock batsman managed to get bat on an Atkins delivery but it found the safe hands of Mumtaz who made no mistake.

During the mayhem Thurrock opener Jack Day was in fine form, he played a fine patient innings, dispatching the bad ball but showing the good ball the respect it deserved but he to finally fell to the wizardry of Atkins. Having been bogged down and scored just two in his previous twenty deliveries Day slapped and ball to square leg, Keith Daniels was the man in position and he had ran round in front of square and took a superb full length diving catch to the delight of the Goresbrook contingent. A similar effort the previous week ended in disaster but this catch was graceful. Even though both elbows hit the hard turf the ball stuck in his hands.

Atkins spell had finished and he had taken six for 32 from nine overs. At 69-9 Brook were in pole position but the reintroduction of Mumtaz and Gillham failed, Bundock and Hills, two veterans for Thurrock knew the game situation and attempted to bat out as many of the remaining overs as possible. Skipper Maund brought himself on and the final Thurrock pair started to play shots and give chances.

Mumtaz turned to his leg spin and finally removed Bundock who was undone trying to drive one back past the bowler, Mumtaz taking a fine catch off his own bowling. The final pair put on 25 for the last wicket. Tea was taken with Brook needing 95 for victory.

Dave Leadbeater and Darren Boland opened the batting. Possibly the most contrasting styles you could have for a pair of openers. Leadbeater languid and relaxed whilst Boland twitchy and nervous. Boland was soon to go being caught at point off the bowling of Mills. Tommy Puncher was next in and he looked at ease, he and Leadbeater scored slowly but were not getting to many problems until Leadbeater became Bill West's first victim with a ball that swung before nipping away of the seam and catching the top of the off stump.

Puncher soon followed, falling to exactly the same delivery as West found his range. At 22-3 pressure was mounting, the pitch was difficult to score on and this soon became 27-4 as Greaves was caught at mid on trying to attack against West. Gillham (Jnr) came and went to another perfect delivery from West. Keith Daniel fell cheaply again, this time to Feeney as the Brook batsman tried to make runs away from the superb West.

West accounted for Maund, again with the perfect delivery that had already done for other Brook batsman before Mumtaz was bowled by Feeney to leave Goresbrook in dire trouble at 42 for 8. With Parnell and Gillham (Snr) at the crease hope was still there but it soon dissipated as West again hit that line and length and bowled Parnell.

Gillham hit a couple of late lusty blows but it was too late and bowling hero Atkins was last man out falling to a catch at mid on off the bowling yet again of West.

West was immense throughout, consistently putting the ball on the right line and length with a hint of swing and moving the ball away from the batsman off the seam at will. He finished with tremendous figures of 9.2-2-11-7 as Thurrock won by 30 runs to move fifth in the table, just a place behind Goresbrook

Bowling
Qasir Mumtaz - 9-4-15-3
Paul Atkins - 9-3-32-6
Ricci Parnell - 8-3-15-1

Batting
Troublesome