3s edge Stow

Ricci Parnell’s 3rd XI kept their unbeaten record intact as they won a thriller against Walthamstow at the M&B Annex ground. Brook overcame a slow start to post 210-7 from their 40 overs with Michael Wilson starting the fightback with 23 from 14 balls and then a superb 73 from 41 balls from under 15 Andre Thoufick proving invaluable, as with support from Andy Livett (31*) and captain Parnell (30) the Goresbrook middle order dominated the latter overs.

The Walthamstow response was built around a big partnership for the 4th wicket between captain Nic Knight (80) and Zohaib Tahir (55) and the game went down to the wire with Walthamstow looking favourites to prevail requiring 11 off the final 11 balls with Tahir going well. However Joe Barwick's torrid spell ended with the removal of Tahir and Walthamstow entered the last over requiring 7 to win with two new batsmen at the crease.

Another under 15 Ted Ivory bowled the last over, his first of the game, and he proved to be on the money. The first four balls all beat the bat leaving Stow still requiring 7 from the final 2 balls. With the field all back on the boundary by now, they could only manage a pair of twos leaving Brook the winners in an excellent contest. Seamers George Godfrey (3-33) and Danny Gillham (2-35) were the pick of the attack for Parnell’s men, who remain top and visit Hutton 5s at Mountnessing next week.