Rooke Rules The Roost

Goresbrook's 4th string continued their impressive 100% record with a crushing victory over Oaklands at May & Baker's Annex Ground on Saturday afternoon. Visiting captain Stuart Ayris won the toss and must have been rueing his decision to invite 'Brook to bat first. The experienced opening pairing of Steve Rooke and Dave Leadbeater gave the hosts a solid foundation with an opening stand of 119.

Leadbeater was first back in the pavilion after fashioning an entertaining 35 before being bowled by Syed . Rooke continued his rich vein of form following knocks of 90 and 102 with a superb 91 which included 15 fours and 2 huge maximums but the pint sized plunderer was undone when holing out off the bowling of John Allen. The misery continued for the visiting attack as Darren Boland hit a sparkling unbeaten half century and Jo Wilkinson marked his return to duty with a fine knock, the silver-haired swashbuckler hitting 66 containing 7 fours and 4 towering sixes, lifting Goresbrook to a mammoth 262 for 2 from their allotted 40 overs.

After tea Frankie Boland played havoc with the hosts' top order and his impressive 3 over spell yielded 3 for 3. Fellow new ball bowler Ricci Parnell claimed 1 for 4 from three accurate overs. Colts prospects Bobby Granger, George Sleight and Ted Ivory each claimed a scalp before Andrew Pauling wrapped up the visitors reply with 2 for 11. Oaklands' keeper Dan Ayris top scored for his side with an enterprising contribution of 38 but was unable to thwart another success for top of the table Goresbrook.