2s breeze past Epping

Goresbrook’s second string emulated their heroes in the 1st XI by also moving up to 4th in the table with an excellent win over Epping at the M&B Club. Spinners Lawrence Walsh (2-16) and Harry Jackson (3-20) both prospered as Epping’s batsmen continued to try to attack after the seamers had done the early damage, with Billy Parnell prominent taking 2-10 from his 7 overs. However nobody could really take the initiative for the visitors (despite the odd indiscriminate beating handed out to Richie's military medium in between edges through the slips) and Epping were shot out for 129 in the 38th over.

Lee Jones deserves a mention in dispatches for a tidy (one bye) job behind the stumps in testing conditions, a stint which he was rewarded for by skipper Forward calling up two additional wicket keepers for this week's game at Walthamstow, the German seemingly being well advised to bring his bowling boots along this week.

A chase of 130 proved no problem for one of the better home batting lineups fielded this season, with Kurt Whisker hitting a composed 25 and Mark Bird a thrilling 26 which contained some of the cleanest hitting you will ever see from a batsman whose first movement is a stride back towards square leg. They were just the support act however, as another 50 for the in-from Aaron Scott was very much the headline act. Scott finished unbeaten on 57 never really looking in any danger, as Brook eased home in 30 overs.

Daryl Forward’s men will look to make further strides up the table on Saturday as they head to Buck Walk E17 with a much changed side.