Braintree CC’s 3rd XI travelled away to Chapel and Wakes Colne looking to get back to winning ways after two consecutive losses. With a bumper week of availability and a team reminiscent of a 2nd team from a few years ago, the dolphins were confident. However, it was not to be as the day ended in a four-wicket defeat in what was a closely fought affair.
Braintree won the toss and elected to bat first on what looked a very dry wicket. An experienced opening pair of Jamie Foyster and Ian Johnston opened up and started sedately before both were dismissed quickly, Foyster edging behind off Singh before Johnstone was bowled by Jackson. Andrew Sherry and Calum MacLeod attempted to steady the ship in contrasting fashions, Sherry taking the more aggressive approach. He rode his luck before eventually skying a rank delivery when on 17 which would have been a wide if he had left it. That left the dolphins at 49-3 with a rebuilding job needed. Young Will sherry ably supported Macleod, finding singles and twos before leaving a straight one to be dismissed for 10. Macleod eventually then fell with the score on 100, a patient 34 from the skipper. The other skipper, Karl Parker was bowled after hitting a boundary and soon after Matt Kent was caught on 12. Lucas Hale was out LBW to Jackson to give him his fourth wicket before he bowled Calley Foyster to give him his fifth, a fantastic performance from the opening bowler, finishing with figures of 11-2-28-5. Charlie Garner scored a quick 15 and Leigh Garner nudged a few singles to leave the score at 129 before Charlie was stumped on the penultimate ball of the innings. A low total but a defendable one on a pitch that had a few demons in it.
Leigh Garner and Andrew Sherry opened the bowling, the first few overs passing by without much action until Sharma struck Garner for three consecutive boundaries in one over before he was dismissed via a decent catch from Charlie Garner at cover off a short and wide delivery from his dad. Sherry soon got in on the act, having Fordham well caught at mid-on by Hale. Sherry was fired up after having a plumb looking LBW turned down and his bowling suffered, giving Raza a few loose balls that he despatched into the leg side for six. A few drops did not help his mood either, Raza being let off one to many times by the dolphins. The score reached 77 before Raza vas finally removed for a quick fire 38, Hale dismissing him with a full delivery that struck him in front of all three. Another wicket fell with the score on 77 as MacDonald chipped one back to Hale, who took a sharp return catch. Opener Maytham, who survived the earlier LBW appeal, was still battling away and along with hope, the score was steered the score past 100, before he was finally dismissed for 24, leg spinner Calley Foyster sneaking one round his legs. She soon got another wicket, a beauty of a delivery that pitched middle and hit off to remove Turton for a duck. Braintree felt they were very much in the game with the set batters removed and 20 runs still required. Charlie Garner and Foyster toiled away, not giving away many runs, both finishing with economy rates of under 2 from six overs each. However, Hope, Alongside Jones, found the singles and the occasional boundary to see his team home with 6.2 overs to spare, the game ending with 4 byes after an attempted quicker ball from Garner.
A disappointing day for Braintree, however great spirit was shown after a below par total, and if catches had been taken and other decisions went our way, it could have been a different story. The wins will come for the dolphins if they continue to play in this manner, with great fight and determination in abundance, as was reiterated by Macleod at the end of the game