On an overcast day the Braintree 3’s looked to make it 4 wins on the trot on a cloudy day that had the returning swing king Lewis Walker-Everton come in for Leigh Garner, with Shub Alhat earning a promotion up the order, and Jay Slippery hands Shah coming back to show us his fielding technique.
Johnston and Lockhart went out to bat in the usual manner to be met with accurate bowling from the off. Johnston batted like a blind man in a dark room, playing a full toss with his foot one moment, keeping out 2 Yorkers the next, slapping 4’s and offering a sharp return drop the next, which caused the bowler an injury such that his Mum was taking him to the hospital after the game and bemoaning the fact he had a driving lesson the next day and his wrists hurt from the impact.
After such a ‘are you not entertained innings he walked past an in-swinging Yorker to get bowled for 17.
Lockhart continued his efforts and tried to assist the batting by placing the ball perfectly between two fielders who collided, with no call between either of them. Thankfully for the fielding team, after the collision no serious damage was done, but it was a reminder to Braintree to talk to one another in the field.
Enter the dibbly dobbly bowler. The bowler of nightmares. Nothing more than slow loop on a spot. He had captain Calum playing round a straight one early to sacrifice his weekly search for a 50.
He had Jay plumb LBW. The inform Alhat came and went, caught at a floating slip position going for a big shot. Captain Karl came in aggressive, hit his second ball for a beautiful 4 before unfortunately being caught going for a big hit in the deep.
Will Sherry came to the crease but unfortunately received a quick in swinging Yorker first ball - something that will be a learning experience and which sadly most of us have received in our careers.
Joe Chaplin then came in and looked to play straight and firm and offer support to Lockhart, who still continued to build his innings as the carnage took place around him. Joe looked excellent in defence but sadly misjudged a ball slightly and played on.
Shub came to umpire at square leg and nearly got hit by a ball thrown in whilst checking his telephone as Garner and Lockhart were united at the crease, looking to push towards a par score, knowing that we had overs to play with. Sadly, after a monumental innings in the circumstances Lockhart played an uncharacteristic shot and was caught for a very well earned 39.
Johnston apparently used his best efforts to speed the game along, remembering the adage ‘a quick game is a good game’ by forgetting for 3 overs that there are actually 6 balls and not 5 in a cricket over - he obviously needs to watch more cricket on work time.
Hale and Garner were together, and put on the biggest partnership of the innings, Garner pushing the ball through the gaps knowing he had overs to enjoy, and young Hale supporting him, being fully aware what he had to do to outscore his Dad’s innings that day for the 2’s.
Eventually Hale’s long innings was brought to an end - an invaluable stay of 21 balls giving Garner the opportunity to push the score on, finding the boundary when he could. The final wicket was another bowled, Lewis-Walker being deceived by a slower paced ball having proudly told everyone how he’d faced up to the pace bowling in the nets on Thursday leaving Braintree on 119 all out.
There is no such thing as a disappointing total in the 3’s and we enjoyed our Teas, apparently now supported by some fancy cool box company. We knew we didn’t have much wiggle room, but trusted in our bowlers and our fielding.
As ever Lewis-Walker bowled tight lines and enjoyed the cloud cover, but despite being miserly for his 6 overs for 19 was unfortunate in never quite enticing an edge. At the other end Captain Calum roared in, all anger and fury as if someone had told him Newcastle are a second rate football team from up north. After toning down the fury and finding his line and length, he caused all sorts of problems, picking up the first wicket to a catch from Will Sherry on leg side, leaving the oppo 21-1 and looking in trouble. He finished with figures of 1-16 off 6 overs.
With a change of blowing at both ends, it once again remained very tight, with the run rate starting to creep. Hale bowled excellent lines despite his frustration at not getting any wickets - ending with just 15 runs off his 5 overs, including a very hard change to Parker who showed his growing as a captain by moving himself the ball before to exactly where it went.
Hale received a compliment from the leader opposition batter about how well he bowled, who it turned out remembered playing with his Dad when Frank was just a child. When it was pointed out that young Sherry was playing too the old boy realised that time waits for no man!
Charlie Garner looked to replicate his wonderful figures from last week, but again, despite bowling tight lines and being treated with respect, this week his Mum actually watched his spell, meaning no wickets for him, returning figures of 0-21 off 6 overs.
Finally the ball was thrown to Joe ‘Golden arm’ Chaplin. With absolutely no effort Joe was immediately into his rhythm, causing problems for the set batter, and forcing him into a rash shot and a catch for Captain Calum at mid-wicket.
Will Sherry was brought on to try and entice another wicket, but the experience of the 2 batters at the end proved too much, and they saw Brightlingsea home in 31 overs.
A game played in good spirits all round - some jokes, some comedy, and just nice people on both sides. How a Summer Saturday afternoon should be spent.
We go again next week, heading to West Mersea looking to bounce back.