Braintree's U13's lifted themselves up to 2nd spot in the league following a second consecutive win, avenging a narrow 1 wicket defeat to opponents Sudbury from earlier in the season.
In contrast to that game the weather was glorious as the Sudbury skipper, Jack Batch, won the toss and asked Braintree to bat on what was a flat looking surface.
The opening pair of Will Sherry and Lucas Hale started cautiously but, whilst there were few boundaries in the early exchanges, they were soon in their groove pushing singles almost at will to keep the scoreboard ticking over. The first boundary arrived in the 7th over when Hale drove Barker to the long off fence and that seemed to spark him into life as his next two balls were also struck for 4. Runs were beginning to flow now and the pair dovetailed beautifully with Sherry looking to push the 1's and get Hale on strike who was looking to be the aggressor. With the partnership at 90, and another century stand in the offing, Leighton Byford-Hoadly snuck through Sherry's defences to remove him for a really well made 32 and he sits comfortable top of the league run scoring table with 152 at an average of 76 from 4 knocks this term.
Shortly afterwards, Hale reached a well-deserved half century from just 36 balls which included 8 fours (one of them all run in searing heat!) which represented a welcome return to form as he played with a freedom we haven't seen in a while.
Bertie Burnside was joined by Tyler Dyer in the middle and the pair pushed the score on to 135 before Dyer was unfortunate to be run out in the quest for late runs but Burnside continued his great season with 25 not out as Braintree set a target of 143.
Sudbury came out looking to get off to a flyer and in the shape of Reggie Cast they certainly did that. He peppered the leg side boundary early on as he dominated an opening stand of 33 in 14 balls before Corbyn MacLeod bowled Oli Philp for 3 to give the Dolphins their breakthrough. Whilst Cast continued on his merry way wickets fell regularly at the other end as Tyler Dyer disturbed the timbers of Deacon and Debenham, both having scored 2, to leave Sudbury 55-3. The dangerous Jack Batch joined Cast at the crease, but he didn't get going and chipped Henry Butler to mid-wicket where Bertie Burnside took a comfortable catch. Leighton Byford-Hoadley was the only Sudbury player to offer any support to Cast and once Cast had retired on 51 (32 balls, 10x4) the onus was on him to take his side home. With the score on 90 from 12 overs the target was well in sight but when Hale bowled Byford Hoadly for 13 the run rate slowed, and Braintree started to get a grip of the game. Logan Dyer took his first U13 wicket when he removed Kaira Logan for 4 and returned superb figures of 1-4 from 3 overs. 2 run outs followed with Will Sherry, who took the gloves in the absence of Jake Lee, showing good hands to see the back of Amy Williams for 2 before Lucas Hale hit direct from mid-off to account for Freddie Williams for 4. The Sudbury chase petered out at 119 and Braintree completed a well deserved win.