It was a bottom of the table clash this week for Braintree to try and find their first win. Easton were the visitors to Braintree.
Captain Hinks won the toss and elected to bat first. Initially this looked like the right call as Matt Renvoize and Matt Childs played their shots and took the attack to the bowlers. They reached a 52 run partnership when Childs got a snick through to the slip cordon for 15. Things changed dramatically as Husnain Ali and Will Jackson were both bowled without troubling the scorers. At the other end Renvoize then fell for a very elegant 31 from 30 balls including 7 boundaries. Braintree had fallen to 53-4. Captain Hinks and Josh Newman at the crease tried to steady the collapse however only 11 runs later, Hinks sliced the ball in the air to the point fielder who never looked comfortable under it but managed to pull off a one-handed catch. 5 runs later Josh Newman hit a long hop straight at square leg to be caught for 4. Bryn Powell was the next man in however only managed to last 3 balls before being dismissed caught at first slip despite leaving the field thinking he was adjudged LBW. With the score 69-7 it was looking like yet another poor batting display from Braintree. Mitch Atkins joined his host for the season Chris Walker and the discussion was let's stick around and post a match winning partnership between us. Despite having the best intentions Walkers poor form meant he struggled to get bat on the ball and the partnership was broken at 12 runs as Walker fended off to slip. 81-8 and the new batsman was Toby Adcock. Mitch must have passed the message on as Toby and himself tucked in to the task at hand. Both batters looked comfortable and determined as they dismissed everything that Easton could throw at them. The score had progressed to 178-9 as Toby and Mitch had put on 97 run partnership before Toby eventually fell on 36 from 77 balls as he was trapped LBW however received a well-deserved applause as he left the field. Despite the great display of batting from the pair, the amusing highlight of the entertainment was Mitch raising his bat as he had reached 37 thinking his Braintree team-mates were applauding his half century. Robbie Spalding was the last man in however only 1 run was added before he was bowled trying to hit one over the pavilion. 179 all out with Atkins leaving the field with a fantastic unbeaten knock of 56 from 45 balls. Jenkins and Godward the pick of the bowlers for Easton both picking up 3 wickets.
Easton had obviously decided that they were going to take the attack to the Braintree bowlers as from ball one they played ther shots and scored quickly. Hinks got the breakthrough with an LBW with the score 24. Braintree knew that they had to take quick wickets to be in with a sniff of their first win. The score progressed to 60 when Robbie Spalding was brought into the attack. He gained a wicket with his first ball as a juicy full toss was hit straight at Newman who managed to somehow catch it in his chest as he fell to the ground. Easton's danger man fell with the score progressed to 110 as Donsworth’s innings of 72 off 74 balls came to an end caught on the boundary by Will Jackson off Childs. Needing just 70 to win with 7 wickets in hand and plenty of overs remaining things were looking ominous for Braintree. Despite this, great spells of bowling from Robbie Spalding, Matt Childs and Captain Hinks continued to apply pressure with the run rate dropping whilst picking up a further 3 wickets between them. With the runs drying up Easton had slipped to 165-7 but with only 15 runs the overs were running out with only 4 remaining. Braintree made it difficult with only 3 runs coming off the 48th and 2 off the 49th it meant Easton needed 4 from the final over. Newman was the man Braintree was relying on. 2 dots started the overs, meaning 4 from balls required, 2 singles off the next 2, a brilliant piece of fielding off his own bowling on the 5th ball saw Easton's, Jenkins run out at the non-strikers end by Newman. 1 ball to go 2 to win. Unfortunately, Newman strayed down the leg side meaning a wide as the batters ran through to Powell behind the stumps who narrowly missed with his throw at the stumps. So close but yet so far for Braintree, the hunt for the first win continues.