Carpe Dias

A mixed U13 and U11 Goresbrook team visited North Stifford for a 30 over friendly against Belhus on Sunday morning.
Skipper Grace Wood lost the toss and was asked to bat.
Brook openers, Phil Thoufick and Albie Smith got the innings off to a healthy start with a 36 partnership before Smith fell trying to clear the infield.
Next in was John Nicholls, who impressed with some hard hitting in an entertaining knock of 14.
Essex u13 representative Thoufick fell 1 short of the agreed retirement target of 35 with the score on 91
Freddie Atkins hit a quickfire 9 but it was Grace Wood and Liam Elsom who batted themselves in and then accelerated with a 46 partnership to take the final total from their allotted 30 over to 141-4, Essex u13 girls representative Wood scoring 20* and Elsom 11*.
It was a shame that more of the side didn't get a bat but coach Paul Atkins was happy that the innings went the full distance with the loss of just 4 wickets.
After a generous lunch, Brook took the field and Liam Elsom made an early inroad into the home batters with a wicket in his first over.
Thereafter, far too many wides and no balls were bowled, keeping Belhus well ahead of the required run rate, but with wickets being taken at regular intervals, the game really hung in the balance. Belhus required 5 runs from 4 overs when Archie Dias returned to the attack and grabbed the final wicket, much to the delight of his team mates and the assembled parents.
Replicating performances such as this one will bode well for the upcoming Brain Taylor trophy games.
Bowling figures: Liam 1-9, Archie 2-13, Phil 1-11, Albie 1-10, Vajran 1-25, Grace 1-8. Freddie 2-5 and Ben 1-14.