Braintree 2's second game of the season was a comprehensive loss at home to Kesgrave and it was once again the batting that let the team down.
Braintree won the toss and elected to bat on a greener than usual wicket at St Peter’s road and after surviving the first few overs without much concern, Jeremy Hollingsworth was caught by the keeper, an outstanding catch from the Kesgrave gloveman. Lee Fullgrabe was caught first ball attempting to flick through the leg side & Adam Westall didn’t last much longer and Braintree were now 17-3. Nick Lockhart battled his way to 17 before he was bowled and it was left to Joe Osborne and Andrew Sherry to try and rebuild the innings. Sherry scored some quick fire runs and Osborne was looking calm at the crease before he was bowled, off bat and pad, onto stumps. Sherry was dismissed in an even more unfortunate fashion, as he was run out at the non strikers end, surely the worst way to get out. This left Braintree 68-7 and two more wickets fell quickly to leave the dolphins 74-9. Josh Paget and the veteran Shaun Gould tried their best to add some respectability to the total, but on 92 Gould was caught at cover and the innings was over. The standout bowlers for the visitors were Nathan Pryke and Parry Minhas, the former only conceding 12 runs in 10 overs and the latter claiming great figures of 4-21.

Braintree knew luck would have to be on their side if they were to have any chance of winning but even though good lines and lengths were hit by both Andrew Sherry and Dan king, the visitors intent was clear. A plan was set for Bruce Marques and it nearly produced a wicket but for an extremely tough dropped chance for Fullgrabe at deep midwicket. After making 34, he was eventually caught of a much simpler chance by the same fielder off the bowling of Josh Paget. Paget got a second when he trapped the Kesgrave number 3 lbw but the innings was steered home by Gogna, who finished on 38 not out.

A tough day for the Braintree boys, but lessons to be learnt for next week where they will look to turn their fortunes around away to West Bergholt