Goresbrook were crowned Hamro Foundation Essex League Division Three champions after a stunning comeback at Stanford.

Captain Kane Messenger chose to bat in their winner-takes-all contest but saw the hosts take advantage of the new ball.

Springbok paceman Josh Fransman tore into the batting oder to reduce the Dagenham club to 78-7, as opener Shaun Ross made a resilient 29 but saw six teammates fail to trouble the scorers.

Shane Barwick (24) battled away before falling to the returning Fransman (6-33), before Jordan Harris mixed dogged defence with exuberant strokeplay in a vital knock.

The 30-year-old hit a six and nine fours to finish unbeaten on 59 from 77 balls, as last man Livash Ramduth hung around for 22 balls to share a 36-run stand.

That allowed Goresbrook to reach 139 in the 32nd over, leaving Stanford to face 13 overs before tea.

And Messenger made early inroads during that spell to reduce them to 27-2 and give his side hope at the interval.

Lee Knight (29), Robert Page (17) and Jack Scutt (20) appeared to have steadied the ship as Stanford eased to 77-3 after the restart, before one of the most incredible 45-minute spells in the 42-year history of Goresbrook.

Messenger accelerated through the gears, proving unplayable as he decimated Stanford's line-up, while Jordan Calverley and Ramduth cranked up the atmosphere with a scalp apiece.

When Daryl Forward’s direct hit ran out Adam Knight the game hung in the balance, before Messenger closed out the innings and sealed a 45-run win, completing figures of 7-19 to send the large Goresbrook contingent into raptures.

All 11 players are graduates from Goresbrook’s colts section, with coach Paul Cook building on last season's momentum in only his second year at the club with a practical approach and hard work ethic reaping dividends.

Goresbrook go in search of more silverware at Loughton in the Sunday League T20 Cup Final tonight (Wednesday) and still top of the Sunday League table, but the outcome is out of their hands with matches still to be completed by rivals Bardoli and Rose & Crown.

The seconds beat Southend by three wickets at Southchurch Park in a satisfying end to the campaign.

Captain Rohit Sharma and Karamat Ali took four wickets apiece before Jack Gibson's brace helped to dismiss the hosts for 161.

Juber Rukon found the rope 11 times on his way to an excellent 61 in reply, as opening partner Karnail Kalyan contributed 30 in an opening stand of 99 to give Goresbrook a springboard for success.

The understrength thirds put up a brave fight at Wanstead sixths, who posted 247 thanks to 99 from Nikhil Patel.

Rahad Hassan and Sheper Choudhary took three wickets apiece for Brook, but they were dismissed for 123 after tea, with Choudhary (31) their top scorer.