Braintree's first dip into T20 cricket for a few years saw them record a comfortable 62 run victory on an extraordinary day for Joe Osborne, who took a career best 7-23.
Having chosen to bat first skipper Matt Renvoize and Dave Hale strode to the middle to face the orange ball and it wasn't long before Hale was walking back having been bowled by Marcus Jessiman for 5. Renvoize and Bryn Powell then shared a 40 run partnership, with Powell looking particularly menacing on the drive, before Renvoize chased a wide delivery from Sam Norman only to edge behind to 'keeper Scott Vine. Powell was not far behind as he chipped to Adam Twin at mid-wicket off the bowling of Ben Hurter for 32 and the out of form Chris Walker tamely prodded Norman to Dass at short cover to leave The Dolphins 69-4 from 8.4 overs.
Josh Newman joined Karl Parker in the middle and the pair set about upping the run rate before Newman (17) was caught on the long on boundary by Hurter to give Dass hiss first wicket. A catch that should have been regulation turned into a stunner as Hurter initially misjudged and then recovered brilliantly.
Parker was now getting into his stride, peppering the mid-wicket boundary in his unique way, while Chris Hinks rotated at the other end. Parker eventually fell for 31 from 24 balls in the 17th over to leave Braintree 143-6 but some wayward bowling and clean striking from Hinks (46*) and Mitch Atkins (268) saw Braintree's total reach 212 thanks to an unbroken stand of 69 in just 25 balls.
The second innings of this match was very much dominated by 2 men. Terling opening bat Gary Oldham scored 79 before being the last wicket to fall and Joe Osborne's incredible spell seeing him take 7 wicket, all of which were caught.
It was Thoe Sherry who got things moving for Braintree when he had Max Castledine caught by Mitch Atkins at mid-on for 1 but the 7th over saw the start of the Osborne show as he took 3 wickets in his opener. Marti Cullum, having hit 28 from 19 balls, edged to Dave Hale at slip before Amrit Dass, having dispatched his first ball for 6, hit his third to Grace Poole at mid-off. Marcus Jessiman (0) then found Atkins at mid-on and 53-1 had become 60-4 in the blink of an eye. Wickets continued to fall at one end whilst at the other Oldham moved to 50 from 42 balls with yet another crunching off drive. Osborne and Hinks combined to take the next 3 of those wickets as Hurter (5), Pitchai (2) and Vine (0) all perished to mid-off before Chris Walker broke the run of Osborne wickets to remove Sam Norman for 1. Josh Newman taking the catch at mid-wicket. Osborne then picked up his 7th as Twin (4) feathered behind to give Renvoize a simple catch and it was Hinks that (fortunatley) ended Oldham's stay as he was adjudged to be LBW for 79 from 61 balls. It looked a little high at first glance, thoughts are the umpire may have a phobia of the dark and was keen to get off avoid the failing light.
Terlings chase ended at 150 but 350+ runs scored in an entertaining run out for the T20 side.