Despite Braintree’s defiant effort, they came second best to Coggeshall Town who secured a 4-wicket victory in the opening game of the season.

It was always going to be a tough test for Braintree as they returned to Division One cricket and coming up against last years 3rd place Coggeshall. It was going to be made harder given it was unbelievably windy making it considerably colder than expected.

Talk on arrival to the ground was the cold as well as one very short boundary. But the main talking point was the wicket which for the 1st game of the season was a used pitch which looked more like the wicket of the fifth day of a test match. Clearly Coggeshall planned to make the most of their spin attack.

During the pre-match warm up a warm welcome was given to the new additions to the team, Mitch Atkins, the New Zealander overseas and Johnny Whiteoak who has relocated from Gods own country, both great additions who offer pace with the ball and hard hitting with the bat.

Things started better than planned when Captain Hinks actually won the toss and chose to bat first. With regards to the bat Hinsky’s fortune from the toss was short lived as he was bowled by a perfectly executed in swinging Yorker from Coggeshalls overseas, Henley. Despite the early wicket, Chris Leech played freely including hitting a six aided by the short boundary. He was supported by Louis Cant who added 21 before edging to the keeper as Coggeshalls dominance with spin started to pay off. Walker, Powell and Fullgrabe had fleeting visits to the crease, whilst Leechy continued to play a vital role with a patient innings of 63 off 106 balls, featuring 5 fours in addition to the one Six. Leechy fell trying to push on off the bowling of ex Braintree player Barry Stephens. This his second wicket of a superb spell of bowling from Stephen’s who claimed 3 wickets for just 9 runs in his 10-over spell. Atkins was adjudged LBW for just 6 on his debut. The other debutant, Whiteoak tried to push on with Newman at the other end, however a powerful straight drive from Whiteoak unfortunately caught the hand of Stephen’s on its way through before smashing into the stumps with Newman short of his ground. This brought a weary eyed Matt Childs to the crease who had put in a great shift to attend the game coming to the ground straight from Antigua where he had drunk the island dry of Rum! He too was adjudged LBW trying to play some form of sweep shot with the score now 168-9. Braintree knew this was under par and aiming to get the next batting point of 175. Whiteoak hit some powerful strokes to add 21 before being bowled exactly on the 175 mark. Toby Adcock the not out batsman.

Braintree knew that in order to defend this they would have to bowl well and field tightly. This started well with Newman and Atkins opening the bowling, with some notable early on fielding of Whiteoak and Walker. Braintrees breakthrough came through Atkins who bowled Coggeshalls opener Green with the score 25. Atkins first wicket for Braintree was followed by a celebration which left the batsman feeling aggrieved. Coggeshalls number 3 wasted no time in trying to take the attack to Newman however was caught at cover after just 2 balls. A great start with the score now 29-2. Atkins earlier celebration seemed to spring life into the other opener Edward King, who played some attacking shots reaching 49 runs off 46 balls, including 8 fours. With the score reaching 80 in quick time. Braintree’s luck wasn’t in when the highly anticipated debutant Whiteoak who has been troubled with injury previously, let out a groan and pulled up holding his hamstring after just 1.2 overs. After convincing Captain Hinks that he was the right man for the job, Matt Childs with rum still circulating around his body stepped up to finish Whiteoaks over. A move that paid dividends when King chipped a long hop from Childs to cover. At this point Hinks decided to bring himself on to take advantage of the spinning track, with the score progressed to 94 Hinks struck getting Coggeshalls captain, Addison, trapped in front of middle. At this point Braintree were well in the game and their tails were up. Unfortunately for Braintree a patient innings from the overseas Henley and a contribution from Hanham moved the score onto 146. Despite Coggeshall needing less than 30, Braintree were not finished there when Hinks struck again as Hanham went aerial to only find the safe hands of Atkins. 10 runs later Braintree struck again, this time Louis Cant ending a fine innings of 65 from Henley, again finding the safe hands of Atkins. The bowling remained tight and you could sense the nerves kicking in for the home team as they slowly and steadily gained the remaining 19 runs to a 4-wicket victory, reaching 177/6 in 37 overs.