A below par performance at Goresbrook saw the 1's beaten by 95 runs in a low scoring game. Goresbrook won the toss and elected to bat, hoping to put something near 180 on the board to give them something to defend given our lofty status in the league and missing a few first teamers. The scoring was slow and steady and at the halfway point they were 77-3, with all three wickets falling to Matt Salisbury. With Dan Green taking a wicket in the first over after drinks, there should have been a seismic shift to us; but a crucial partnership of 52 was the telling factor of their innings. The return to the bowling of the opening pair of Jack Plom and Matt saw the hosts lose their last six wickets for 31 runs, with Matt finishing with figures of 14.5-4-46-7, the best bowling figures by a 1st XI bowler since Mehad Khan's 8-27 three years ago at Horndon. Goresbrook were all out for 160 inside 48 overs giving us two extra overs to surpass their total.
We were never in the hunt. After losing our openers cheaply, the wicket they were after (Lesiba) came and went in the space of five balls. Dave Hickey (relieved of the wicketkeeping gloves for this match) had his concentration ruined by a child from a wedding party running onto the pitch and up to the square before being caught by an irate mother! Dave was promptly bowled next ball and we were five down. At drinks, we were seven down with 55 runs on the board and going nowhere. It did take them over nine overs to take the final three wickets , but we were shot out for 65 as the gloom descended over the May & Baker ground. Not many players take seven wickets and end up on the losing side, but that was the case in this game.
We retain our position of second despite this drubbing. Hopefully, we can return to winning ways next week against bottom of the table Horndon, but there will need to be a vast improvement on this performance.
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