Ones "Switch Hitting" Not Enough

Goresbrook’s First Eleven crashed to a 36 run reversal at May & Bakers Sports Ground on Saturday. Visiting Captain Tom Garner won the toss and elected to bat on a hot and humid afternoon and was vindicated as opening pair Chris Whitworth (40) and Syed Hussain (31) made hay in the sun. Home skipper Kane Messenger arrested Harlow’s acceleration with a three wicket spell. The introduction of Daryl Forward (2 for 32) and Shane Barwick (2 for 51) knocked the stuffing out of the visiting side’s middle order but James Forde held their innings together with a superb unbeaten 54. A wicket for Muhammad Attuallah and sharp run outs from Messenger and Ted Ivory ultimately restricted the visitors to 187 all out.

After tea the Dagenham outfit suffered early setbacks but the two Jordans – Harris (38) and Calverley (22) made a springboard for an assault on the required total. In mystery circumanstances the stumps were replaced on the adjacent track after the pitch was rolled between innings. trangelyHarlow paceman, Joe Riddell, enjoying conditions on the alternative surface, kept producing the goods to leave the hosts in disarray. The tail offered brief resistance as teenager Siraj Zafar with a battling 27 and Forward (14 not) posted a last wicket stand of 27 but the return of Riddell completed the victory – his return of 6 for 37 proving to be difference between the two sides.

Harlow 1st 187 all out in 49.4 overs (25 points) beat to Goresbrook 1st 151 all out in 36.4 overs (6 pts) by 36 runs