Goresbrook u13's took a 9 strong team to Coopers school for a friendly with Upminster B but were defeated off the penultimate ball in a game that went to and fro throughout.
Brook won the toss but lost Sriraman run out of the 2nd ball. Liam Elsom and Grace Wood consolidated with a 60 run partnership, notwithstanding some suicidal calling as the batters came to understand that the longish grass was not conducive to quick singles, before the Essex girls u13 rep retired with 25. Liam soon followed suit with his own retirement before Vajran, with 17, and a smattering of singles, overthrows, wides and wickets gave Brook a total of 110 from their 20 overs.
Brook took regular wickets in the home reply, the pick of which was a superb running catch at deep midwicket by Vajran off Alex Slee. A brace of run outs by Jack Gibson and another for Ben Atkins kept Brook in the game but Upminster ran well between the sticks and picked up the run rate despite losing further wickets to Grace and Archie Dias.
7 were needed off the final over and they edged across the line with a ball to spare.
A big shout out must go to 12 year old Aaron Hossein who kept wicket superbly on debut.
The u13's play again against Hornchurch in a fortnight's time.