Braintree 2nd XI made the short journey to local rivals Dunmow CC in the search for their first victory of the season. Skipper Gowers was in two minds as to what to do on derby day, but that decision was made easier when he lost the toss and Dunmow asked to have a bat first on a used wicket that looked like it would only deteriorate throughout the game.
Usual suspects Sherry and Pąğët set about their work and settled into a rhythm in the sunshine. Dunmow captain Rix looked to target the legside boundary with supporting Johnson in the middle. Chances went begging as Gowers jumped past a catching opportunity off of the bowling of Pąğët but in the 14th over Sherry got the breakthrough, clean bowling Rix with the score on 63. Rosewell came to the crease and looked to carry on where he left off last week having scored an unbeaten century, but after a few swift blows Geoff Eveling had him caught by Matt Childs. Childs himself was introduced into the attack to show everyone his new offies that he’d been working on over the winter, and after finding his length Childs had the lesser Johnson chip one to short cover for the ever safe Walton to claim the catch. Eveling picked up his second with Lindsey Trevillian trapped in front with the score 142-4 in the 30th over. GlenDoepel joined opening batsman Johnson at the crease and set about sending the ball to the boundary looking to bump up Dunmows score. Eveling picked up his 3rd wicket as he had the opener adjudged LBW for 86. Some big late hitting from GlenDoepel and Mixture ensured the innings closed with Dunmow finishing with 257-5 after their 45 overs. A respectable but not unchaseable score. The innings of Dunmow could have been different if any of the 6 dropped catches were taken.

Tea was taken and enjoyed with the travelling away fans as Braintree’s baby boom continues.

Hale and Newman strode out to the middle to get Braintree underway in the chase. Fuelled by his Brekky B, Newman looked like a man that hasn’t been away from the cricket ground. After a few big hits down the ground Hale was caught behind for 14 in the fourth over leaving Himesh Patel to seek redemption. Newman oozed class and showed us all his golf swing as the ball travelled all over the ground as well as ticking over the strike with some nicely placed shots. Newman reached his half century and Patel looked to be finding the pace of the deck before unfortunately chipping one straight back the spinner Gray. 121-2 quickly became 133-3 (Childs 11) then 140-4 (Walton 5). With Sherry striding out to the middle on the back of his century last week and Newman still going nicely Braintree looked to be in a good position to chase the total down within their overs. Disaster struck with Newman on 97 as he went for one too many shots and was only able to spoon the ball up in the air to give Gray with fourth, his third caught and bowled of the day. Wickets fell at regular intervals with only Hollingsworth providing the only hope Braintree had left. With Hollingsworth undone by a superb caught and bowled, Braintree’s lower order couldn’t quite see us over the line.

A disappointing day on the field for the boys but lots of positives and points of learning to be taken from the day. The 2nd XI look to get the winning ways underway next week as they host Maldon at home next week before celebrating the chairman’s 60th in the evening.