Jonno beats Baddow

Goresbrook 4's returned to winning ways against Great Baddow 4's in their TRippon division 9 game at Writtle Agricultural Cricket Arena on Saturday.
Winning the toss, skipper Owen Elsom chose to bowl first with the pitch spiced up by a light shower half an hour prior to the start. The conditions were conducive to both swing and seam movement and both Elsom and Pawan Singh kept things tight. Elsom forced opposing skipper Wigley into a mistimed drive which Darren Johnson, featuring in Brook colours for the first time in 15 years leapt spectacularly like a Boland , or perhaps like a salmon, and held on to the ball one handed to land the initial breaktrough. Singh broke through the other openers defences for a well deserved wicket. Matthew Elsom dismissed ex Essex Taverner Danny Saddai for a duck and Darren Ivory's darts claimed a fourth wicket.
Baddow 's middle order looked to consolidate and for a good ten overs succeeded in doing just that but Andrew Pauling nabbed two wickets in two balls to catches from Ivory and George Sleight.
Lol Walsh entered the attack and kept a tight line which forced the tail to take on a returning Owen Elsom who grabbed wickets to catches in the V by Ivory and Singh. Alfie Horan threw down the stumps on the first ball of the final over to dismiss 10 man Baddow for 115.
Brooks top order struggled against Chris Chappie who took 3-12 and were somewhat in trouble at 34-5 but Johnson had other ideas as he took on first the close in fielders and then the white line around the pitch. 6 boundaries including a huge maximum took Johnson to a well deserved 40, well supported by 19 from Walsh and 26 from Darren Ivory. 3 consecutive lofted drives from Johnson took Brook across the line in a well contested game played throughout in the right spirit.
Brook's next game is away to Old Chelmsfordians, a stones throw away from the WACA at Lawford Lane.