Batting heroics in vain

A makeshift Goresbrook 3rd XI gave a spirited performance against Wanstead and Snaresbrook 6ths at the MABA on Saturday.
Dave Leadbeater lost the toss and the home team were inserted. Runs were hard to come by as Brook crept to 48-4 from 17 overs. However Jo Wilkinson and Owen Elsom added 53 for the 5th wicket with Wilkinson hitting six 4's and 1 maximum in his 35 before playing on.
Freddie Atkins impressed with some fine shots in his entertaining 10, but it was Owen Elsom and Paul Atkins who added 72 in 6.5 overs with Elsom hitting his second 50 of the season with 13 boundaries and Atkins smacking five 4's and two maximums in his entertaining 39*, helping Brook post 197-6 from their allotted 40 overs.
Brooks young seamers all put in creditable shifts but Wanstead had simply too much in their armoury for Brook to realistically challenge.
Solitary wickets for Paul Atkins and Dave Leadbeater plus some difficult half chances were all Brook had to show for a determined performance in the field.
It was perhaps ironic that Wanstead had the luxury of fielding several players who had played for higher XI's this season while all three Brook XI's were rather more ad hoc. It is hoped that Brook can field a much stronger XI next week against Hornchurch and get back to winning ways.