'Brook ramble through Wood batting

'Brook U15's began only their second game this season in bullish mood as they were invited to bat against a young Harold Wood team. From the outset, the batsmen made hay against the Wood inexperienced bowlers. Skipper Charlie Thompson hit a quick fire 30 and fellow opener Owen Clayton a solid 15 before both players were retired. There was no let up for Wood as nos.3 and 4, Harry Jackson (31) and Dominic Gurden (30), hit the ball to all parts, Gurden being particularly harsh on any stray deliveries. Their retirements opened the door for the less experienced batsmen to have a knock. Debutants Barney Griggs and Mat Curtis however, didn't communicate very well as Griggs was run out without troubling the scorer. Andrew Pauling also came and went, caught and bowled for a duck. Curtis held firm though, and finished the innings 4 not out. Goresbrook posting a more than competitive 127 for 2 from their 20 overs.

In reply the Goresbrook opening bowlers, Daniel Parnell and Arun Chopra, bowled good tight deliveries which the Wood batsmen found difficult to score against. Parnell (4 overs for 11 runs) and Chopra (4 overs, 1 for 15), left the batting side well behind the run rate after 8 overs. The pick of the bowlers however, was Owen Clayton whose 3 overs yielded 3 wickets for just 8 runs, an impressive return for his first bowl of the season. The Wood innings came to an end as they reached 81 for 4 from their 20 overs leaving Goresbrook winners by 46 runs. This was a good warm-up game for next Sundays clash with Upminster 'A' which will undoubtedly be the hardest game of the season.