Generation gap

A very young Goresbrook U11 team gave a creditable performance despite their defeat to Upminster B at May and Baker on Wednesday evening. Brooks line up included 5 under 9's,3 of whom were making their hard ball debut.
Upminster won the toss and chose to bat. Steady if unspectacular progress was made although several chances were offered but not accepted. It was not until the introduction of debutant Archie Dias in the 13th over that the first breakthrough was made as he pushed the batsman back into his stumps. When the effervescent Phil Thoufick got a wicket with his final ball the visitors net total was 258. This lead to an astonishing finale as a flurry of wickets from one end and runs from the other had spectators on the edge of their seats. Stanley Sleight returned figures of 4-11, 2 victims bowled and 2 courtesy of catches by the Smith brothers sandwiching a run out that enabled Upminster to post 301-7 for a net score of 266.
Stanley carried on with the bat where he left off with the ball as he hit 5 boundaries in his undefeated innings of 23 in a partnership of 32 with Grace Wood 2* that got Brook's reply off to a flyer.
Liam Elsom faced 16 balls for 2* in his debut innings but he and Freddie Atkins found it difficult to get the ball away for any runs.
Tommy Smith and Albert Sleight added 17 without loss to leave Brook needing 18 runs from the last 8 overs.
However Upminster saved their big guns to see out the match and Archie Dias,on his debut, had to bat like Brian Close against the 1976 West Indians, as he and Phil Thoufick each lost their wicket to leave Brook still needing 19.

Last pair Albie Smith 5 and debutant Harry Ivory 1*had a mountain to climb but the loss of a wicket in the first over of their partnership made the task all but impossible . Smith hit a boundary to give Brook hope but the loss of a further wicket meant the game was lost however a very young team gave a highly creditable performance.
Goresbrook's totalled 273-5 for a net score of 248.