Braintree’s First Eleven recorded their third consecutive victory by convincingly beating Little Bardfield Village last Saturday.
Chris Leech won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat first on another road of a home strip. However, the Dolphins lost their first wicket with only 26 runs on the board as Matt Renvoize mishit a drive straight to mid off and trudged back to the pavilion having scored just 9. Bryn Powell joined Chris Leech at the crease and the pair set about a recovery pushing singles and ensuring that loose deliveries were despatched to the boundary ropes. Both batsmen reached their half centuries within a few a few deliveries of each other, unfortunately having reached 50, Powell lost his wicket as he offered a catch to mid-wicket.
Chris Hinks moved to 17 fairly quickly however he then offered a simple return catch to Richard Linney, the same bowler then trapped Joe Osbourne LBW with just a single to his name. Leech was now seeing the ball really well, scoring runs from almost every delivery and reached three figures with his 18th boundary. Unfortunately, having scored a couple more singles he was run out.
With Braintree looking to score quick runs Himesh Patel (7) and Geoff Eveling (10) were bowled and adjudged LBW respectively off the bowling of Rory Hitchcock. If Leech saw the ball well then Luke Gouldstone was seeing it even better, racing to 44 off only 20 deliveries before he was run out off. Gouldstone’s innings included 4 huge sixes that saw the supporters in front of the pavilion racing for cover.
Grace Poole remained unbeaten on 9 as Braintree’s innings closed on 268 for the loss of 8 wickets.
In reply Little Bardfield lost wickets at regular intervals and never threatened to get anywhere close to the total posted by the Dolphins. Rory Hitchcock (12) was first to depart as Himesh Patel took an excellent running catch off the bowling of Josh Paget, then Luke Gouldstone deceived Daryl Hymas (25) and once again Patel was on hand to take the catch. Paget also claimed the wicket of Joe Owen (5) with Glen Newham clinging on to a catch in the covers. When Grace Poole trapped Matt Jones (10) LBW, Chris Hinks cleaned bowled Richard Linney (24) and a direct throw from Joe Osbourne ran out Will Slemmings (0) the visitors had been reduced to 114 for the loss of 6 wickets.
Sam Noble came to the crease with the sole intention of swinging the bat and succeeded in quickly scoring 27, however after clubbing Geoff Eveling for two consecutive boundaries he missed a straight one and was clean bowled. Ewan Slade had been a little more subdued and made his way to 30 before Eveling trapped him plumb in front. Chris Hinks once again cleaned up the tale as he had Ben Hownslow (2) caught behind by Matt Renvoize and then he dismantled Sam Goodfellow’s stumps.
Little Bardfield were all out for 169, giving Braintree a victory by the margin of 99 runs.