Michael Rooke Goresbrook

Goresbrook 192-5 beat Hawks 123 all out by 69 runs.

Goresbrook captain Kurt Whisker hailed the performance of middle-order batsman Michael Rooke who inspired Goresbrook to a 69-run win over Hawks on Saturday.

Having lost the toss and put into bat ’Brook were reeling at 6-3, but Rooke steadied the ship with an unbeaten 73 to push them on to an above average 192-5 from their 45 overs.

“It’s been a hard season for batsmen and Michael has struggled all year on difficult wickets, but there was some pace in the track today and he showed what a class act he is,” said Whisker.

“Jordan Harris was superb as well and their partnership enabled Bryan Atkins and Kane Messenger to play with a bit of freedom at the end.

“A score of 192 was beyond my wildest dreams at the 30-over mark and our attacking batting really deflated the opposition, which is not something I have been able to say often this year.”

The excellent Jason Samuels dismissed Whisker for two and wily veteran seamer Hubert Ryan took out Jordan Calverley and Toby Maund without scoring as Hawks were well on top.

And the support bowlers kept up the pressure to such an extent that it took until the 18th over before Goresbrook had more runs than overs batted and at that stage a score of 150 looked to be the limit of their ambitions.

However, Rooke played the anchor role for a superb unbeaten 73 and as the ball softened and the Hawks fielders tired, Rooke put together significant partnerships with Jordan Harris (38), Bryan Atkins (34) and Kane Messenger (23 not out).

The Goresbrook batsmen dominated the last 15 overs, adding 120 runs, driving the bowling to distraction with some fine shots down the ground.

In reply, Hawks were soon in trouble as Richard Williams dismissed Fenton and Osman for ducks and Israel Ochwo bowled the dangerous Petrus William.

The Hawks middle order were then stifled by tight spells from Lawrence Walsh and Rooke and as the run rate required mounted to above eight an over, the batsmen were forced to take risks.

The chief beneficiary was off-spinner Maund, who shrugged off his earlier duck with the bat to take 4-16, hustling out the Hawks tail-enders to leave Goresbrook victors by 69 runs after an excellent bowling and fielding performance.

Meanwhile, Billy Chapman’s wicket-keeping was a real positive as the youngster made his first-team debut.