The ECB Under 19 T20 blast got away on Wednesday evening as Goresbrook Goats played hosts to Rainham in a carnival atmosphere at May and Bakers. With a remit to duplicate the fast moving game seen in the IPL and in county cricket Goresbrook certainly didn’t disappoint with a mixture of colour and music on a warm summers evening in East Dagenham.

The Goats were wearing the new coloured T20 gear for the first time and were put into bat by Rainham who were likewise dressed for the occasion.

One of the driving forces of the U19 competition is to improve participation from 17 to 19 year olds in the game and it certainly worked as Ben Irving who has drifted from the sport in recent seasons came back to open the batting for the home side and promptly dispatched the opening bowler for a huge straight six.

Irving continued to pile the runs on and hit an impressive 29 in a 40 opening partnership with Gaymer (5) before he edged behind to the keeper. Irving's 16 ball inning included three sixes and entertained the large crowd who had gathered at May and Bakers Sports and Social club.

After the Gaymer fell with the score still on 40 captain Shane Barwick and U14 wicketkeeper Danny Gillham steadied the ship with a 3rd wicket stand of 32. Following Gillham's dismissal (15) Barwick fell (17) to a dubious stumping but this allowed in form U15 Aditya Kumar to come to the crease and the talented batsman promptly dispatched Perton for his first club six.

Kumar slayed the visiting attack and scored an excellent unbeaten 28 from just 20 balls as he and Charlie Thompson (13) pushed the score to 133.

In response Rainham lost early wickets. Billy Smith claiming the first as Gillham made amends for an early missed stumping by finally getting Denial by that method for 15. Gaymer bowled Savery in the next over for no score before Harry Jackson removed the dangerous Ronnie Jackson for just 11 that put Goresbrook firmly in control.

Charlie Puncher became Smith's second victim as the wiry haired spinner took control. Manning fell to the same bowler three balls later as the keeper took his second stumping. Smith made it three and two in two balls as he and Gillham combined yet again to dismiss Altaf.

The hat-trick ball saw the field close in but batsman Hebert decided to go big but he only found the safe hands of Bobby Gaymer who took an excellent catch on the run to provide Smith his hat trick in his 137th age group appearance for Goresbrook and final figures of 5-22.

Little and Knowldon frustrated the hosts as they stuck around for 44 runs for the eighth wicket but Nelson struck as Kumar removed the Rainham number 9.

Kumar grabbed a second to finish with 2-17 as Gillham took his fourth stumping of the innings and Rainham fell 16 runs short in their chase.

Captain Barwick said after the game 'It was a good to have the win, its always nice to get off to a good start in any tournament and hopefully we can take that into our next game. Billy Smith was superb today and I was delighted to see him get a hat trick and he has shown that he the premier spinner in the club at the moment'.

Smith was delighted with his five wicket haul 'I bowled well today, there was a lot of pressure on me today but I stepped up to the plate and got a five for and I am delighted'.

Highlights of the match and interviews are available here - https://youtu.be/53FK2aRBMbU