Kane Messenger

Goresbrook 194-9 beat Walthamstow 193-8 by one run

Goresbrook captain Kurt Whisker insists his side will continue to battle to the bitter end as they seek to retain their Essex County Cricket League title.

’Brook, inspired by a fine unbeaten half-century from Bryan Atkins, edged a nail-biting contest with Walthamstow on Saturday to leave themselves 27 points behind leaders Scintilla, but with only four matches left to play.

With fixtures still to come against Scintilla and second- placed Barking, Goresbrook’s title tilt is not yet over.

But Whisker concedes his team will need a favour from elsewhere in order to retain their crown.

Lost once

“Scintilla have only lost once this season and Barking are the form side in the league, so it’s hard to see where they are going to drop points,” he conceded.

“But we just need to keep on battling and put them under pressure.”

It was Goresbrook’s battling qualities that saw them clinch a vital victory at May & Baker’s on Saturday.

Goresbrook’s innings got off to a flying start as they reached 40 runs in five overs, with Toby Maund (24) and Jordan Calverley (22) at their fluent best.

But dismissals off the bowling of Asif Bala halted their good early progress and, as wickets started to fall, only Atkins was able to post a big score. Chasing 195 to win, Walthamstow’s top order were initially stifled by bowlers Michael Rooke and Richard Williams who bowled several maidens to restrict the visitors to 40-3 off 18 overs.

However, once the ball started to soften, Bala (60) found an ally in Zisan Abedin and they set about rebuilding the innings.

Although Abedin (20) was trapped lbw by Shane Barwick, Baughan took up the attack with Bala and, in a 10-over spell, the Goresbrook bowling looked ragged and lost the services of paceman Israel Ochwo, who was withdrawn from the attack after bowling two head high full tosses.

Fortunately for Goresbrook, just as Bala looked to change gears, he smacked a Maund full toss straight to Jordan Harris at deep square leg to depart and suddenly it was anybody’s game.

With two inexperienced batsmen at the crease, Goresbrook looked to protect the boundaries and ramp up the pressure.

Ultimately, the game reached the last over with seven runs required and three wickets in hand and Kane Messenger proved up to the task for ‘Brook.

The seamer bowled outside off stump and although a fine edge looked to have won the game for Stow off the third ball, a superb diving stop from wicket-keeper Chris Burke saved a certain boundary and the visitors could only scramble a single.

From the last ball, Stow required three to win or two to tie, but another edge to Rooke on the third man boundary was safely fielded and a fine throw over the stumps saw Hawkins well short of the tying run.