Goresbrook’s first eleven slumped to another defeat following a batting collapse at Harold Wood Park on Saturday.

Home skipper Shahzad Hafeez won the toss and put the visitors in, reaping immediate dividends when Imon Ahmed nicked Dan Carter behind for 4 . Opening partner Toriqal Islam continued his good form with the willow, producing a series of hooks, pulls and cuts in an excellent half century. Islam had fashioned 8 fours and a maximum when departing for 52. ‘Brook captain, Jordan Calverley, dropped anchor mixing obdurate resistance with occasional flamboyance as he attempted to hold his side’s innings together and could only watch as a his team mates fell cheaply at the other end. Five of the Dagenham outfit returned to the hutch without troubling the scorer and the only bright spark in the tail was a quickfire 19 from Hussain Chowdhury. Architect of their downfall was Taqi Abbas who followed his England Over 40 debut, earlier in the week, with 6 for 42 including a memorable hat-trick. Calverley was not to be deterred, occupying the crease for fully 145 minutes, facing 104 deliveries which yielded 9 fours and a towering six, finishing unbeaten on 66, as his side crashed to 161 all out.

After the tea interval, Daryl Forward grabbed an early scalp when removing Usman Shafi for 14 but ‘keeper Craig Perrin (28) and Eesa Faheen (49) batted sensibly to put ‘Wood in a commanding position. The game sparked to life when Perrin returned a catch to Ted Ivory then Shane Barwick bagged 3 quick wickets as the hosts went from 92 for 1 to 115 for 5 to give Goresbrook a whiff of victory. Shahbaz Khan eased their nerves with 19 not out and it was left to match winner Abbas (14 not) to clinch a 4 wicket victory for the home side.

Goresbrook 1st 161 all out from 38.3 Overs (6 points) lost to Harold Wood 1st 162 for 6 from 41.2 Overs (20 points) by 4 wickets