Braintree’s First Xl made their way to mid table East Bergholt still searching for that elusive first victory of the season.
Following his impressive run scoring form for the Twos, Dan Garner was promoted to the Ones. Meanwhile, Joe
Osbourne was drafted into the side at the last minute as Chris Leech sustained a Padel injury, there was also a scare
during the warmup when Matt Renvoize was struck on the finger, fortunately with the aid of some ice he was able to
take up his role behind the stumps. For East Bergholt, George Foster preferred to face the Dolphins rather than
attend his brother’s wedding!
With the strong chance of rain during the afternoon Captain Hinks won the toss and invited the opposition to bat first.
Hinksy’s decision was initially vindicated as in just the fifth over Johnny Whiteoak trapped Callum Woolston plumb in
front and soon after Josh Newman had James Pratt similarly dismissed. John Hambrook survived only two balls
before his stumps were demolished, the home side had been reduced to only 21 for the loss of 3 wickets.
James Baker and George Foster put on 69 runs for the fourth wicket as they deposited the ball to the boundary ropes
on numerous occasions. Eventually, the partnership was broken as Baker having scored 21 drove Mitch Atkins
straight to Louis Cant. Soon after, when 3 runs short of his half century, Foster skied Atkins to mid off and Joe
Osbourne took an excellent catch. Bergholt at this stage had lost half their wickets for 113 runs and the Dolphin’s tails
were up.
Unfortunately, from then on, it was the East Bergholt batsmen that dominated proceedings ably assisted by some
wayward bowling that gave away no fewer than 35 extras and several mis fields.
With light rain falling Toby Toombs started to find the boundary regularly and assisted by the home side’s overseas
player Nikhil Thokala, put on 74 runs for the sixth wicket. However, having just despatched Louis Cant for a four to
bring up his half century, Toombs was deceived by the Braintree spinner and he was adjudged LBW. The Australian,
(not from the Subcontinent, Mitch) was joined at the crease by Harry Nightingale and the pair continued the
onslaught. Eventually, the stand was broken as Nightingale, having scored 27, drove Hinks straight to Dan Garner
who nonchalantly took a catch.
Thokala, having struck Hinks for sixes off consecutive balls and then despatching Cant over the ropes the next
delivery he received moved on to 76, immediately though he lost his wicket as Josh Newman finally got his act
together and took a fine catch on the boundary. Ben McGrath and Archie Lawson remained unbeaten as the pair saw
the home side past 300 from the final ball of the innings.
Rain fell during the tea interval, however the covers ensured no time was lost as Chris Hinks and Matt Renvoize
strode to the wicket to attempt to make inroads into the big target. Unfortunately, Renvoize having struck Thokala to
the boundary decided to give Foster catching practice and had to make his way back to the pavilion after facing only 3
balls. Dan Garner, playing his first game for the Ones for over a year, calmly hit two fours before the rain fell again.
Braintree claimed that were ahead on Duckworth Lewis should the game be abandoned, however the game restarted
after 25 minutes and immediately Garner, missed a straight one and was bowled by Baker.
Chris Walker joined his Captain at the crease and the pair started to push the score along. Having moved on to15,
Hinks attempted to despatch Nightingale out of the ground, he failed to middle the ball though resulting in Toombs
taking an excellent running catch. Next to bat was Johnny Whiteoak who with his fellow Yorkshireman, put on 42 runs
for fourth wicket. Once again, the heavens opened and it looked at one stage as though the game would be
abandoned, however the clouds cleared and players took the field again.
East Bergholt then brought Callum Woolston into the bowling attack and although conceding 54 runs in his 10 over
spell he also took 5 wickets! First to fall was Chris Walker, who having scored a very good 40 got the finest of edges
and was caught behind. Braintree’s middle order batsmen, not for the first time, gifted their wickets as they all tried
and failed to despatch Woolston out of the ground. Whiteoak (20), Atkins (8), Powell (0) and Cant (14) were all caught
in the deep by Foster, Nightingale, Thokala and Lawson respectively.
It was left to Joe Osbourne to show his colleagues how it should be done, batting patiently he defended the decent
deliveries and ensured that anything off line or length was punished accordingly. Joe was ably supported by Josh
Newman in a 9 th wicket stand of 56 runs off 42 balls. Unfortunately, having moved to within 2 runs of his half century,
Joe failed to get bat on ball for what must have been almost the first time and could only watch as it crashed into the
stumps. Joe was devasted as he trudged off, but in reality, he should have been holding his head high.
With the light fading and with Braintree still needing over 100 for victory, and with only one wicket in hand Newman hit
out in attempt to gain as many batting points as possible. However, when only 5 runs short of maximum points,
Newman’s effort of hitting the ball for six fell agonisingly short and Thokala plucked it out of the sky. Newman batted
better than his earlier fielding and finished on 30, Theo Sherry was unbeaten on 4 as the Dolphins were all out for 220
the most they’ve accumulated in the league so far.
So, the wait goes on for that first victory.