This week Braintree Mini Dolphins take to Sudbury, looking to bring back a win for their young side. On this Monday evening the pitch was dry and the sun was low, as Braintree won the toss electing to bowl.
Lucas Hale, our consistent all rounder, and stellar captain, opened the bowling with Corbyn Macleod, our up and coming seamer who has been reliable to stick to the stumps and pick up wickets each week. Within the first two overs our young Mr. Hale took two wickets both bowled, top of middle and off stump, resulting in major jubilations from the team on the pitch. Whilst Macleod was keeping the bowling line tight as usual, the field was set well and Hale continued to rise the atmosphere with encouragement alongside his teammates. Macleod maintained pushing the ball through well, keeping Sudbury’s run rate low. In the field the ball was being attacked well throughout by everyone, particularly Elliot Partridge, fielding at square leg, and Archie lake mid wicket during first half of innings, attacking close in to the keepers end.
Will Sherry came onto bowl the 5th over of the innings, against the second Sudbury pair, taking a wicket with his second ball, clean bowled. Dylan Aziz putting some pressure on in the alternate over, finding his feet on the wicket. With the third batting pair, in Henry Butler was on to bowl, taking another wicket for the team in his first over, again clean bowled. Plus, the second over for Henry saw more then endless progression taking two wickets in two balls - first wicket bowled, and the next caught by our class fielder Lake. With Partridge supporting the alternate overs, keeping good lines, and keeping the batting maintained, the final Sudbury pair was into bat.
Hale brought himself onto bowl for this final pair, and rightly so as he sent the bails, and stumps, flying with another wicket making that 3 for himself to take home. However, with some strong shots towards the end of innings from Sudbury, the opposition finished their innings on 241.
Braintree’s batting inevitability opened with our solid opening batsmen, Hale and Sherry, who reliably run well, and today took advantage of a deep set wicket keeper. Their 4 overs saw great 4’s hit from Hale, hitting one short ball, just short of the boundary going for 4 over square leg. Sherry put his tap and run into practice, taking quick singles when available, together the pair racking up over half the amount of runs needed, finishing just those 4 overs on 236.
Second pair Partridge and Macleod, took a few risks for some singles, the crowd being witness to a scarce run out opportunity, followed by two run outs successful from Sudbury, and a skied catch, which took the team back down to 223, with the pick up of a few singles.
Butler and Aziz then ventured into bat as the third pair, unfortunately Butler was out first ball, bowled by a straight one, but picked up some well needed runs, alongside Aziz, taking their time, and holding their own against some stronger bowlers.
With a fair few runs needed to come out victorious, Braintree’s best wicket keeper at the club, Jake Lee, journeyed out to bat, with star fielder Lake. The pair looked dubious on walk out, but once settled at the crease, they looked like they would stay there solidly. This they then did; pushing the ball around for two’s and three’s, the more than occasional ball finding it’s way past the boundary. It was all to play for, coming down to the last ball, being one run ahead of Sudbury on net score. An attempt was made to let the young batsmen know they could just defend, but with no time to make it, the last ball was bowled and batter Lee went big, unfortunately being caught at cover.
With such a tight game, the boys were understandably deflated, however they were well supportive of each other and were able to point out the areas which needed some improvements. Manager and Coach Calley Foyster, alongside assistant Coach Joe Osborne, commented on how proud they were of the boys, and how they stuck to a good spirit of cricket, keeping the levels up regardless of the outcome. Onto their next game now, away to Great Totham; Come on Mini Dolphins!