Khondakar Crushes Minstermen

Goresbrook Under 15s 153-4 beat Upminster B by 66 runs

Goresbrooks Under 15 side comfortably beat Upminster B on Sunday by 66 runs at the MABA. Skipper Billy Parnell won the toss and elected to bat on a gloriously sunny morning. The only change to the line-up from the previous match versus Hornchurch Athletic was the recall of Barney Griggs to replace Lee Jones who with his manager father Matt, were unavailable as they were sightseeing in Great Yarmouth.

Caretaker Manager, Sean Dyche lookalike Joe Barwick was assisted by father Dean and Under 13 director of cricket Danny Gillham.

Adi Kumar and Alfie Boland opened the batting and soon found the Upminster bowling to their liking. Following a steady start Kumar plundered several boundaries to all sides of the ground including the first six of his Goresbrook career that had the assembled Sunday morning masses in front of the pavilion running for cover. Kumar retired on 31 not out from just 14 balls.

Boland wasn't as brutal as Kumar but still punished every poor delivery with fine drives and pulls and he soon retired at 30 not out. With a changeable batting order, captain Billy Parnell was briefly joined at the crease by Bobby Granger who, having a great season thus far, was unable to deal with a whopper of a delivery from Hamberger who took the catch of his own bowling. Barney Griggs soon came and went being bowled by Joe Kelly.

Gillham Jnr was next to join Parnell who was enjoying himself by this time. Parnell had already struck the shot of the day, a perfectly timed drive through the covers for four before launching into an assault over mid off and vicious pulls through mid wicket. His retirement came at 30 not out off just 20 balls.

Gillham continued the onslaught, scoring 17 off 12 before standing on his leg stump and then Pauling remorselessly thumped 17 from 14 legal deliveries before his innings was closed by Curtain from the sight-screen end. Symmonds and the eldest of the Thouficks finished the innings in fine style to see Goresbrook register a very competitive total.

A between innings speech from persimmon headed principal Barwick roused the Goresbrook lads and they got off to a flyer. Tahmid Khondakar from the off was far too much for the minster men to handle. Khondakar struck with his second ball, a brilliant outswinger that took the edge and was caught behind by Gillham.

Khondakars second over effectively ended the game. The second ball accounted for Frost who was frozen by Tahmid's pace and his middle stump disappeared. The third ball dismissed Billington as a shorter delivery was fended back and he caught off his own bowling. On the hat-trick ball he produced a delivery similar to that of his first wicket and although he found the edge of McGloins bat, Gillham Jnr and Alfie Boland failed to hang on to a difficult chance.

No damage was done thought as McGloin was sent back to the hutch when Khondakar ripped out his middle stump two balls later. At 11-4 Upminster were reeling and mercifully Parnell decided to rest Khondakar.

Thoufick and Symmonds were now into the attack as they set about their business and Thoufick claimed Calder LBW with only keeper Gillham appealing. Perman was next to be dismissed, again by Thoufick who added some pace to his consistent line and length to bowl the Upminster number three who had watched his team mates fall from the other end. The tall batsman was excellent with the carnage around him and scored a tremendous 25 runs including four fours.

Hamberger was felled next as Frankie Boland took the first of his two catches off Symmonds bowling. Symmonds took a catch off his own bowling to dismiss Kelly and then Parnell rotated his bowling with Granger and Griggs being given the opportunity to take the last two wickets.

Granger bowled well, his height causing problems for Upminster as he generated bounce with his left hand spin. He finished with 0-26 but the bowling was better than that. Twine was hanging around for Upminster playing defensively to the good deliveries but avoiding being tied up by dispatching the bad. He was eventually undone by Griggs who with more consistency will be an excellent bowler. Despite bowling some short and very wide deliveries he has a natural shape to his bowling and moves the ball away nicely and it was one of these that Twine attempted to cut over point only for Frankie Boland to take a comfortable catch.

Twine's 17 came from 32 balls and was a solid performance as was that of Hall who remained unbeaten on 21 at the close of Upminsters innings, thwarting Khondakar of a five-fer as he came back to bowl the last over.

Brooks performance all round was excellent and captain Parnell can be pleased with the way he managed the innings from the covers.