Goresbrook’s first eleven dented the title aspirations of promotion favourites Shenfield when administering a 95 run drubbing at May & Bakers Sports Ground on Saturday.
Home skipper Kane Messenger won the toss and elected to bat first on the annual Ben Irving Memorial Day. The visitors were able to parachute in Matt Salisbury and the Leicestershire County seamer accounted for the early departures of openers Lee Jones and Jordan Calverley going on to grab a match haul of 7 for 46 from 14.5 overs. With Jack Plom firing at the other end, conditions were not ideal for the home batsmen. Shane Barwick came to the crease first wicket down and dug in mixing resilience with some flamboyant shots as he occupied the crease for 92 balls, fashioning 4 fours and 2 maximums on his way to a superb 53. Barwick received support in the shape of Muhammad Attuallah who crafted an excellent 29 – the pair adding 52 for the fifth wicket. Pawanpreet Singh (12) and Messenger (10) provided late cameos as ‘Brook gave their bowlers a total to defend when all out for 160.

After tea, Goresbrook’s attack produced a rousing display with the ball supported with some sharp work in the field. Ted Ivory got the pulses racing with a three wicket salvo in an unplayable spell. Leading batsman Lesiba Ngoepe came and went for just 4 when edging Ivory behind – the first of three catches for stand in ‘keeper Calverley - and Messenger and Daryl Forward ran amok with a brace of victims apiece. Visiting captain Dave Hickey (14) and Plom (14) were the only Shenfield men to make double figures with the willow. The big crowd were treated to a thrilling finale as Livash Ramduth (2 for 4) , bowling left arm spin, had all his fielders around the bat in an ultra attacking field, as the Dagenham side closed out a memorable victory securing a vital 25 points.

Goresbrook 1st 160 all out from 47.5 Overs (25 points) beat Shenfield 1st 65 all out from 39.1 Overs (4 points) by 95 Runs