Goresbrook were unable to breakdown the dogged resistance of visitors Bentley in an entertaining Hamro Foundation Essex League Division Three draw at M&B Sports Ground on Saturday.

Batting first after skipper Kane Messenger won the toss, Brook slumped to 55-3 before Shane Barwick (36) and Danny Gillham Jnr (45) rebuilt the innings with an excellent partnership of 66.

Steve Flack and Glenn Swinney excelled with the ball, bagging three victims apiece before captain Messenger, who struck a superb half-century, combined with talented teenager Ted Ivory (46) to set up a declaration at 231-8, with both sacrificing their wickets with some frantic running.

After tea the Dagenham outfit’s attack continued their impressive form as Ivory and Messenger had openers Matt Coleman (0) and Mark Carter (7) back in the hutch early doors.

Ash Parmenter then compiled a captain's innings with a compelling 70 and in tandem with free-scoring Phil Coleman (47) swung the odds back in Bentley’s favour with a 105-run stand for the third wicket.

The introduction of Jordan Calverley (2-12) provided the breakthrough and ultimately, the economical bowling of left-arm spin twins Livash Ramduth (2-41) and Shane Barwick restricted the visitors run rate, forcing them to give up their chase and close on 197-7.

The seconds also drew after seeing Leigh pile up 283-8 declared at Chalkwell Park.

Dean Waller’s superb 98, complemented by Jac Sexton (52) and Jack Royce (42), boosted the Seasiders as Muhammad Imran (3-45) and Bobby Granger (2-55) produced good spells in searing heat.

George Godfrey (21) holed out in reply, before captain Rohit Sharma hit 11 boundaries in a magnificent 94.

Karamat Ali provided the perfect foil, with a towering six and eight fours in his swashbuckling 69, but Brook came up short on 220-8.

The thirds claimed a five-wicket win over Walthamstow fifths, with teenager Rahad Hassan producing superb figures of 8-4-4-6 as the visitors were skittled for 82.

Pawanpreet Singh and skipper Billy Parnell bagged a brace of victims apiece, before Asghar Ali (15) set the hosts on their way to a rapid win.

Brook booked a place in the last eight of the Dukes T20 Plate with a five-wicket win over Hornchurch Athletic last Friday.

After winning the toss, visiting skipper Jahron Alfred elected to bat and was rewarded as the first five Athletic batters all recorded double figures.

Messenger (3-24) and Ramduth (2-18) arrested the visitors free scroring despite a battling knock from Sam Klein, who top scored with 22.

And Barwick ran through Athletic’s tail to claim 4-12 as they were dismissed for a below-par 124.

After the turn, Alfred rocked the hosts with a fiery spell of 3-17, but Danny Gillham Jnr (30) and Jordan Harris (37 not out) settled the nerves and eased Brook over the line.