4's march on

The drizzle up in the Essex hills did nothing to dampen the resolve of Goresbrook 4's as they recorded an easy win against an opposition that made our own golden oldies from last week seem like toddlers!
Stand in skipper Owen Elsom lost the toss and was somewhat suprised when the home skipper decided to bat until the oppositions team sheet was found to contain only eight names!
Ricci Parnell opened the bowling with Frankie Boland and although Parnell was unlucky to have a pretty clear cut leg before appeal declined it was Boland, bowling with considerable control and maturity, who opener Geoff Wright played on to his stumps.
Andrew Pauling entered the attack and once he found his length nabbed the wicket of Sargeant. Owen Elsom nipped one back to remove Duhig but then home skipper Ian Scott dug in and steadied the ship, hitting the bad balls and keeping the score ticking over. Boland returned bowling an even better spell and was unfortunate to have a really difficult chance dropped at short cover.
Billy Parnell then entered the attack and grabbed the wicket of WIlliams courtesy of a catch by his dad.
Having to juggle the bowlers around ( nine into forty don't go) Elsom returned for one over and got Archer to hit the ball high but not very far. Billy Parnell however judged it magnificently and took the catch to put NAGs on 124-5. Ricci Parnell and Elsom at the other end returned for the last few overs and kept it tight as the innings closed on 136-5.
Tommy Puncher, who earlier had put in a tidy performance behind the stumps, opened Brooks reply with Atif Ali. Both batted sensibly and grew in confidence pushing into the gaps in the field but it was the age old curse of the drinks break that broke the partnership of 80 when Puncher, then on 32, got the faintest nick on a delivery that only he and the keeper were aware of, and made his way back to the pavillion without waiting for a decision from the umpire, who like the bowler had seen, and heard, nothing! The home team were highly complimentary of Tommy's adherence with the spirit of the game.
Ali had begun to score more freely and was on 48 when he helped a ball round the corner and found the only fielder there had a safe pair of hands. 106-2 became 106-3 when Darren Boland came and went in one ball getting one that took off and gloving behind. Now either Dazza's fate was due to the new kit curse, that Richie Williams had delivered in person to the Eastbrook a few hours earlier or it was down to the fact that Dazza was the only fourth team batsman good enough to get near the ball of the day! You the jury decide. Votes close at 6pm Monday evening.
Martin Rooke comfortably survived the hat trick ball but fell soon after to one that seamed away. However Jo Wilkinson was in no mood to hang around and lofted the ball into the far flung corners of the field including a huge six off a leg side full toss in his 38*. Wilkinson was joined by Bobby Granger who defended gamely but had enough attacking intent to loft the winning runs through midwicket to give Brook a comfortable 6 wicket win that keeps them in second place behind next weeks visitors to the MABA Little Baddow3's.