Braintree CC’s second XI made the long trip to Stowmarket still searching for their first win of the season. However, the victory remained elusive after a 60 run loss for the dolphins.

On a very cold day, it was Braintree who took to the field first and made a good start via a peach of delivery from Callum Lazarus. A partnership of 44 was then built by Hawes and Holding, but skipper Andrew Gowers swiftly ended it by castling Hawes. Holding didn’t stick around for long, with some calamitous running allowing Charlie Garner an easy run out, assisted by keeper Jeremy Hollingsworth. The score reached 100 before 2 wickets fell in quick succession, with Ward being caught at mid-wicket by Dave Hale off the bowling of Garner, off a ball hit should have been despatched for 4. In the next over, Jay Singh Shera had Blake caught in the covers by Guy Walton. This left the score at 104-5, and the dolphins were hungry for more wickets. Waitling and Moore put on another 40 before both were removed by Garner. Waiting fell for the bait, as he slog-swept to Hale in the deep one ball after he’d been moved there, and Moore was another victim of Garner’s golden arm, as another very poor delivery was caught at mid-wicket, again by Hale. The Dolphins had hopes of keeping the score under 200, but a quick fire burst from Lufti, including a huge helicopter shot for six, ended those hopes. Full bowling points were achieved though, as Garner had Lufti caught in the deep by the skipper, Before Gowers himself cleaned up with a bowled and stumping dismissal, expertly executed by Hollingsworth. A committed fielding performance where the dolphins never let the home side run away with it, but a tricky score to chase in the conditions.

In Braintree's reply, Dave Hale and Geoff Eveling started patiently before things all started to go horribly wrong. Braintree’s top 5, the aforementioned 2, along with Charlie Garner, Rory Ainsley and Guy Walton were all bowled in almost identical fashion to leave the dolphins at 49-5, Lufti and Codd running riot with some cracking deliveries. Things got even worse as Shubham Alhat skied one to the bowler and Hollingsworth was adjudged LBW without another run being added to the total. Fortunately, the skipper, along with Shera, managed to restore some pride to the innings, as they put on a partnership of 100, first keeping some accurate bowling out before the skipper especially became a lot more expansive. He eventually reached a very well made 50 and a career best of 67 before he was caught, but a fantastic innings under pressure. Shera tried to become the aggressor at this stage, but unfortunately his partners didn’t last long, as both Lazarus and Lucas Hale fell without scoring to wrap the innings up on 164. Shera finished on a very well made 40* and a lot of credit must go to him and the skipper for the way they fought and reported some respectability to the total.

Fight may have been shown, and the Dolphins commitment can never be questioned, but the search for a win goes on. A tough home match against Stowupland can hopefully be the catalyst for a run of victories.