Braintree's U13s came within a whisker of pulling off a memorable victory as they took on Sudbury in their first away day of the season.
Having lost the toss, skipper Braintree were asked to bat on a chilly morning and were soon in a spot of bother when Will Sherry was harshly adjudged leg before to Albert Joslin-Younger for 4. Skipper Lucas Hale and Will Gregory set about recovering from the early loss and put on 31 before Hale, who had struggled for fluency, was caught at mid-on for 3. 40-2 soon became 41-3 as Tyler Dyer was caught for 1 and when George Wedge was bowled for 5 Braintree had stuttered to 52-4.
Gregory was still going well and when joined by Bertie Burnside they began to push the rate with both playing some classy shots to the boundary. Wickets began to fall as the push for late runs commenced with Gregory bowled for an excellent 20 and Burnside caught for the same score as he looked to go over the top. 90-7 was the final total from the allotted 20 overs which the boys thought was 20 short but also gave them something to go at.
The needed early wickets and boy did they deliver as Sudbury collapsed to 8-6 from just over 5 overs. Lucas Hale struck first as he had Seb Reeve caught by Tyler Dyer at cover for 0 and then Dyer himself bowled Barker in the next over. 0-2 It was apparant that Sudbury had tinkered with their batting line up so Hale pulled himself and Dyer out of the attack and introduced George Wedge and Will Sherry and they quickly got amongst the wickets. Firstly, Wedge removed Harry Debenham for 4 and then Sherry bowled Amy Williams without scoring before Wedge took 2 in 2 in his 2nd over. Firstly the dangerous Jack Batch was superbly caught by Bertie Burnside at mid off before he got through the defenses of Franky Williams to leave the home side reeling. Sudbury skipper George Shropshire came to the crease at number 8 and found the boundary from his first ball before going on to score 30 from 17 balls in a 44-run partnership with Oliver Philp which brought Sudbury back into the game. Just as it looked like Shropshire might run riot Bertie Burnside tempted him to drive uppishly and Will sherry took a smart catch at mid-wicket. Byford-Hoadley came and went as Will Gregory disturbed his timber to leave the home side 59-8 and Braintree were back on top however Joslin-Younger had other ideas as he came out swinging. Having hit 4 boundaries and a maximum in his 24, Braintree player of the match George Wedge returned to the attack and immediately took his 4th wicket to give the Dolphins hope. It wasn't to be though as Oliver Khaira squeezed a boundary to fine leg to take Sudbury over the line with the last pair at the crease.
A fantastic game of cricket for the big following support to enjoy and, although it wasn't to be in terms of a victory, the boys battled hard and showed they care never beaten!
Next up West Bergholt away on Sunday 25th May