Walthamstow skipper, Stephen Turnbull, won the toss and elected to bat at the M & B Annex Ground on Saturday. His decision was vindicated as Matt Cole (35) and Ishaan Kansal (32) found the rope at regular intervals before Joshua Fernandez-Steele compiled an excellent 54 to put the visitors in the ascendancy. Atif Ali (2 for 52) was the pick of the home attack as ‘Stow declared on 212 for 5.

After the interval, opener Andy Livett belied his years with a mixture of dogged resilience and flamboyant strokeplay forming the back-bone of ‘Brook’s reply in the face of some splendid bowling from Hassan Fatimee (3 for 15) and Ivor Minchin-Berry (3 for 27). Steve Rooke (14) and home captain Andrew Pauling (18) provided some highlights in the middle order as Livett fashioned 11 fours and one maximum in a superb 67 before being last man out (the fourth of Mark Hylands victims) having faced a mammoth 129 balls. Livett’s efforts however, were unable to secure the draw as ‘Stow clinched victory by 86 runs.

Goresbrook 3rd 126 all out from 41.3 Overs (3 points) lost to Walthamstow 5th 212 for 5 from 42 Overs (25 points) by 86 runs