Westfield mauls Brook

Holders Hornchurch eased through to the quarter finals of the SNEL league cup after a brutal 116 from 68 balls from Mervyn Westfield took the visitors to a total well beyond the capability of the home side. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Hornchurch got off to a spritely start as Ronnie Saunders hit 50 from 35 balls, however good spells from spinners Billy Smith (2-30) and Toby Maund (1-51) kept the run rate somewhat in check, Hornchurch bringing the hundred up for the loss of 3 wickets in the 22nd over.

At that stage Billy Gordon and Westfield had to consolidate for a few overs after the loss of three quick wickets, however as they became more comfortable, home captain Shane Barwick struggled for options to contain their stroke play, admittedly not helped by three sharp showers which left Brook bowling with a sodden ball. With Gordon knocking the ball about, Westfield had full reign to take on the boundaries and he accelerated from 50 to 100 in just 21 balls, his innings containing 10 fours and 8 sixes. With the game now reduced to 41 overs, Hornchurch closed on 305-6, Westfield and Gordon both eventually holing out in the deep, a target that was revised to 323 to take account of the lost overs.

The Goresbrook response was never up with the required rate, although Kurt Whisker showed plenty of scoring options with a fine unbeaten 44 from 66 balls and a quickfire 36 from skipper Barwick pushed the score up to 97 from 21.4 overs before Barwick fell to Ronnie Saunders the ball before a final heavy shower ended proceedings, leaving Brook 52 runs short of the Duckworth Lewis par score.