U16 Colts Match Reports 2009
Goresbrook U16 v Benfleet U16 Matchplay Comp Sun 28/6/09
Goresbrook 255 all out beat Benfleet 100 all out by 155 runs
Goresbrook skipper Jordan Calverley won the toss and sensing that Benfleet were a little understrength decided to bat first. 'Brook soon found themselves one down as Jordan Harris' lapse in concentration saw him stumped with the score on 21. Fellow opener Joe Curley then decided to go on the attack but he departed trying to play one big shot too many as he was caught for in the outfield for 33. Conor Elliot (19) kept up the momentum but 'Brook had a wobble as Calverley and Matthew Friend came and went for 0 and 16 respectively. However Mitchell Din and Afzal Hussain were not to be restrained as they both played aggressive shots all around the ground to leave the Benfleet bowlers shellshocked, Din hit seven 4's in his knock of 42 and Hussain hit nine 4's in his superb knock of 53. Some solid late order batting with Jack Simmons (22no) and David White (20) saw Goresbrook through to a daunting 255 all out after 37.5 overs.
In reply Benfleet were never up with the run rate as Goresbrook bowled tidily and with wickets falling regularly they struggled to build partnerships. Friend (4.3 overs, 1 maiden, 2 for 10) and Harris (6 overs, 2 for 18) were the main architects of the Benfleet downfall and their innings stumbled to 100 all out after 26.3 overs to leave 'Brook winners by a comprehensive 155 runs.
Dunmow U16 v Goresbrook U16 Matchplay Comp Sun 14/6/09
Dunmow 213 for 4 beat Goresbrook 109 all out by 104 runs
This latest game in the Matchplay competition was always going to be Goresbrook's hardest challenge to date and it proved to be so as they couldn't match the superior quality of the Dunmow players. The home side elected to bat first and two early breakthroughs gave the Goresbrook players some hope, however that was to be the highlight of their efforts as Coupe (41), Wygannowski (24) and a chanceless and superb 103 not out from Matthews virtually batted Goresbrook out of the game, Dunmow reaching 213 for 4 from their 40 overs. Spinner Jordan Harris (8 overs for only 26 runs) was the only highlight in a decidedly below par performance from the bowlers.
In the second innings the Dunmow bowlers showed the 'Brook boys exactly how its done, bowling tight lines and good lengths restricting the batsmen to very few scoring opportunities. The frustration of falling behind the run rate led to a succession of very poor shots as catch after catch was held. The only bright spots in the innings were provided by Afzal Hussain (28) and Billy Chapman (19) who fought hard but ultimately also succumbed to good catches in the outfield. 109 all out was the extent of the Goresbrook reply as they were given a lesson in cricket.
Havering-atte-Bower U16 v Goresbrook U16 Matchplay Comp Sun 7/6/09
Havering-atte-Bower 95 all out lost to Goresbrook 96 for 3 by 7 wickets
Havering skipper James Houghton won the toss and mindful that he had a comparatively young inexperienced side elected to bat first. Things certainly didn't start well for the home team as they lost their first four and most experienced batsmen for just 45 runs. This exposed the middle order and the 'Brook players sensed an early finish to the innings, However some staunch defensive batting from Anderson (20 from 36 deliveries), Arnold (5 from 50 deliveries) and an impressive cameo from Williams (26), frustrated the bowlers who, it has to be said, bowled far too short against these young batsmen. Mitchell Sinfield (8 overs, 2 maidens, 3 for 13) and ever consistent Matthew Friend (6.4 overs, 2 maidens, 5 for 11) were the only two bowlers to eventually realise this and they, along with some fine catches by David White and Jamie Sutton, cleaned up the Havering middle and lower order with the home side reaching 95 all out after 37.4 overs
Knowing that net run rate might play a part at the end of the group stages opener Joe Curley went out all guns blazing as he struck the ball to all parts, making a beligirent 49 from 34 balls, before being caught trying to reach 50 with another lusty blow. Skipper Jordan Calverley joined the party as he hit five 4's and a 6 in his unbeaten knock of 28 from just 13 balls. Goresbrook eventually ran out winners by 7 wickets after just 14.5 overs, a comfortable win, but with the visit to Dunmow to come in the next round the Goresbrook bowlers know they will have to improve against their superior batsmen.
Hainault & Clayhall U16 v Goresbrook U16 Matchplay Comp Mon 25/5/09
Hainault & Clayhall 177 for 8 lost to Goresbrook 178 for 2 by 8 wickets
Hainault elected to bat first in this 40 over per side Matchplay game and it was obvious that the success of their innings depended very much on one player. Essex Academy player Akram held the innings together as all other batsmen around him succumbed in the face of a disciplined Goresbrook bowling attack. Akram's eventual departure for an excellent 102 runs just about sealed the fate of the Hainault & Clayhall innings as they reached 177 for 8 from their 40 overs. Matthew Friend (8 overs, 5 for 38) was the standout bowler for Goresbrook. His immaculate line and length proved too good for many of the Hainault batsmen. Friend received good support from Afzal Hussain (1 for 15).
Defending 177 the Hainault players were confident of victory, however they did not account for Joe Curley and Jordan Calverley. The pair batted watchfully and with great skill as they moved the score on slowly but steadily. Curley in particular was impressive, as the bowling deteriorated he accelerated his innings and eventually reached a superb century in just 83 deliveries, made all the more excellent as he was suffering from a nasty head wound. Calverley (50) batted with equal skill and in the end Goresbrook cruised to the required 178 for the loss of just 2 wickets after only 25.5 overs to record a fine 8 wicket victory.
Gidea Park & Romford U16 v Goresbrook U16 Friendly Sun 10/5/09
Goresbrook 221 all out beat GP&R 207 for 7 by 14 runs
Goresbrook skipper Jordan Calverley won the toss and elected to bat first in this U16 friendly encounter. Openers Joe Curley and Jordan Harris got off to a steady start, however the loss of Curley for 7 brought the in-form Conor Elliot to the crease. Elliot proceeded to bat effortlessly before he was unfortunately run out for a well crafted 38. Harris continued the good work as he moved to 50 for the second consecutive game, Harris was also run out though
as he began to tire to leaving Goresbrook on 116 for 3 after 25 overs. Jack Simmons (19) and a quick fire 30 from Afsal Hussain kept up the momentum but a flurry of wickets slowed the progress and it was left to number eleven Mitchell Din to produce a 20 run cameo that pushed the 'Brook innings to 221 all out with 2 balls to go of their alloted 40 overs.The Park reply also started steadily as they reached 130 for the loss of only 3 wickets, Kiernan (30) and Mckie (36) being two of the main contributors. However number 3 batsman Hughes (51 ret) was proving impossible to shift and it was only his retirement that let Goresbrook back into the game as the other batsmen found it difficult to keep up with asking rate. With wickets falling regularly, eventually the innings came to an end with Park 207 for 7 after their 40 overs. Matthew Friend (7 overs, 1 maiden, 2 for 35), Mitchell Sinfield (5 overs, 2 for 31) and skipper Calverley (6 overs, 1 for 21) were the pick of the bowlers as Goresbrook ran out winners by the narrow margin of only 14 runs in what was a fine, high scoring game.
Goresbrook U16 v Bishops Stortford U16 Matchplay Comp Mon 4/5/09
Bishops Stortford 144 all out lost to Goresbrook 145 for 6 by 4 wkts
Goresbrook began their U16's Matchplay season in fine style to record a 4 wicket win against a strong Bishops Stortford eleven. Stortford won the toss and elected to bat first, where tight opening spells by Mitchell Din and Mitchell Sinfield frustrated the opening batsmen to a point where they were forced into playing poor shots, and Stortford soon found themselves at 23 for 2 after 10 overs. Their downfall began with a steady procession of wickets and only Mcgran (23) and Bull (38) provided any trouble for the bowlers. Matthew Friend (3 for 33), Afzal Hussain (3 for 33) and Sinfield (2 for 19) did the most to stunt the Stortford effort, the away team ending their innings on 144 all out after 38.5 overs.
In reply Goresbrook were cruising along, so much so that they reached 100 for the loss of only one wicket, with Jordan Harris scoring an excellent maiden fifty. However the loss of number three and skipper Jordan Calverley for 38 and Harris for 53 sent a wobble through the 'Brook ranks and it was left to Conor Elliot (11 no) and Sinfield (4 no) to guide Goresbrook home reaching 145 with 4 wickets to spare.
