Baddow too great for young Goresbrook side

Some thoroughbreds and a few stags at Ascot meant Goresbrook 4ths undefeated run against Great Baddow came to shuddering halt on Saturday at a sun drenched Fords Newbury Park.
Owen Elsom struck in the first over removing David Lazarus for a single then struck again soon after clipping an inside edge that Dominic Gurden did well to take very low down behind. But these initial successes did not continue as first Marcus Bowring smashed a century before being bowled by Dominic Gurden then Josh Herter thumped his way to 58 as a succession of young bowlers struggled to find a consistent line and length.
Wickets for Jordan Barwick , two on debut for Abudullah Arfat , and one apiece for 12 year olds George Sleight and Matthew Elsom was all Brook had to show for an afternoon in the sun. Great Baddow totalled 272-8 from their 40 overs.

Goresbrooks reply got off to a good start as Dominic Gurden and Dave Leadbetter took a liking to the bowling on offer but gradually Baddow began to turn the screw and the run rate got higher and higher. Gurden fell for a hard hit 35 but then wickets fell regularly as the youngsters struggled to dig in against some very good bowling.
Leadbetter fell for 26 in the 26th over and skipper did his best to keep the score moving forward looking only towards the batting bonus points. The first of these was achieved but then 3 quick wickets including Maund for a fine 27 ended the game with Brook all out for 135 after 32 overs.
Successive defeats leave Brook well off the pace in Division 11 promotion race and next weeks game away against Wickham presents a chance for the season back on track.