Benfleet can't shoot the Messenger

Goresbrook’s Sunday league side survived an excellent knock of 95 from Benfleet’s David Wright to record their second victory of the campaign, Kane Messenger putting in a superb all-round display to drag his side home.

Wright made Brook pay for a dropped catch from Jordan Harris before he had scored with a fine performance that was the only score of substance in the Benfleet innings until a late partnership with Joshua Brady, who made 26, pushed the score up above the 150 mark and a last wicket stand took the score to 175. Messenger with 3-43 was the leading wicket taker, with 3rd XI vice-captain Joe Barwick also performing well, taking 2-37 on his Sunday league bow.

In reply, Messenger strapped the pads on and batted throughout the innings for a fine unbeaten 88. The right-hander, who has been batting at number 9 in the first XI on Saturday, gave a fine advertisement of his talents to Saturday skipper Kurt Whisker as the pair added 50 for the 4th wicket after Alex Brady’s 3 early scalps had left Goresbrook in trouble. When Whisker departed Jordan Harris took up the mantle and he and Messenger took Brook to the brink of victory before Sherlock removed Harris and Saturday centurion Billy Chapman, leaving Messenger to hit the winning runs in the 38th over.