Youngsters at home on the Hill

Goresbrook’s Sunday league side made the short trip to Horndon looking to build on their unbeaten start to their league season, knowing victory would make them favourites for promotion to the premier division.

Captain Jordan Harris lost the toss and was invited to bowl first in the 28 degree heat, much to the disappointment of his team mates. The ageless Joe Barwick and 15 year old Lee Jones shared the new ball and the latter took the first 3 wickets to fall for the cost of 13 runs in his 6 over spell. The Copper-plated Cavalier then got in on the act removing Stone for a duck. He then removed himself from the attack citing an infection in his elbow, something that later on in the evening would lead to a trip to A&E, his first such visit since being hit over the head by a level crossing barrier.

Brook continued to take regular wickets and only Gary Ginsburgh offered any resistance scoring a fine 48 before becoming the last man to fall when holing out off Shane Barwick. Lee Ramduth, Danny Gillham snr & Harris sharing the other wickets as Horndon were skittled for a modest 124.

In reply Kurt Whisker opened up looking to rediscover his form that has evaded him in the previous few weeks along with 14 year old Adi Kumar, who once again excelled with his performance in the field. He was first to fall with the score on 43 after guiding the ball through gully only to be caught by a top grab. Whisker was next man out caught in the slip off the same bowler Connor Hammond, who returned 2/28 off his 7 overs.

16 year old Charlie Thompson joined 13 year old Danny Gillham JNR at the crease with still 62 required and the young pair set about knocking the runs off against the pacey & sometimes hostile home bowling. Both batsmen batted sensibly, not reacting to the sledging from the much more experienced fielding side as they pushed Goresbrook on to an 8 wicket win, Thompson ending with 32 not out (38 not out if you count the runs he somewhat annoyingly completes every time he hits a boundary) and Gillham 27 not out.

Skipper Harris noted, “It was great to see such a young batting side (excluding Jury) play with such confident and freedom. The boys drew praise from the umpires who said they played beyond their years and showed great maturity to knock off the runs. It was a great performance and further showed what a fine colts set up we have.”