Sun XI on the brink

Goresbrook’s Sunday side moved to within a handful of points of promotion to the Essex Sunday League Premier Division with a resounding victory at Orsett. In a match reduced to 25 overs per side after heavy early afternoon rain, paceman Danny Gillham and left arm spinner Shane Barwick shared 7 wickets to repeatedly set back Orsett’s attempt to post a taxing score. Gillham hit the pitch hard throughout his spell of 3 for 21 and Barwick extracted some sharp turn to take 4 for 15 as the hosts closed on 151-9, an excellent showing for inspirational stand-in skipper Kane Messenger.

The Goresbrook reply lost Mark Bird early on, as he was well held by one of three gullies that Orsett had assembled, but that was to be the only wicket to fall as 14 year old Adi Kumar continued his excellent form with an unbeaten 64 and Barwick completed a fantastic all-round performance to finish proceedings with a six taking his score to 72 not out.

Brook’s final game is against the only side who can now overhaul them, Gidea Park & Romford and if Park beat Orsett next weekend, Goresbrook will require 5 points from that fixture to be crowned champions. Anything other than a Gidea Park victory next Sunday will see champagne corks* popping in Dagenham.

*Rekordalig