Unexpected Sunshine that people weren’t prepared for, 3 different games of cricket going on at the same time, dogs running wild, random members of the public walking across the pitch and our support drinking Prosecco by the bottle. Cricket is officially back. The Braintree 3’s travelled for a friendly to Chelmsford and a first ever game against their thirds, played in beautiful sunshine and unexpected heat. The smell of last years sun creams lingered in the air as it was agreed at a gentlemanly toss that Braintree would bat first. For the first time this season the opening partnership had a combined age of less than 100 as Sherry and Johnston strolled to the crease - Johnston carrying his new bat for it’s debut, and the youngest Sherry carrying his new found deep voice. The pair looked to continue their form from last year when they put Witham to the sword in their last partnership. It was a day to get overs under their belts, and they looked to accumulate and practice running, with Sherry proving technically excellent in defence, looking to play high elbow drives and shots straight from the MCC text book. Johnston did not. However, straight balls were kept out and loose balls hit to the boundary/hit to fielders who kindly dropped him. The pair put on a well crafted opening stand of 52, albeit with the accuracy of the bowling it took time, with Sherry eventually departing for 6 in the 18th over, setting a solid foundation. Johnston was joined by Captain MacLeod who, having had too much sun to his head, clipped his second ball of the innings in most unusual fashion to the boundary for 4. Drinks gave Johnston a chance to reset, but he was determined to push on, forcing MacLeod to run a 2 when MacLeod had all but set up a chair after running the first run. Next ball Johnston attempted to push for 2 again, but this time he was unable to make his ground, reminding him for the rest of the season that time waits for no man, and perhaps running consecutive 2’s in the heat might be a young mans game. His sprightly innings of 48 coming to an end off 55 balls and including 10 4’s. For the avoidance of doubt and the sake of posterity CAPTAIN MACLEOD WAS NOT AT FAULT FOR THE RUN OUT. Singh Shera then came to the crease and formed a significant partnership with the captain, the two of them causing chaos and playing both orthodox (the captains cover drive was beautiful) and unorthodox (Singh Shera disrupting the bowler by constantly moving in the crease and making angles). Taking advantage of the platform provided they put on a partnership of 82 in the last few overs, before Singh Shera found himself bowled going for one shot too many, leaving captain MacLeod to get to his first 50 of the season, and for Alhat to come and get some big biffing at the end of the innings. A finishing total of 175 was, it was felt a fair score considering the opposition and conditions. No teas were provided which gave the opportunity to review everyone’s attempts for the season, and the chance to sample Sarah’s fabled rocky road. As Braintree went out to field boasting a young and inexperienced line up, Hale and Garner started together in tandem, as always proving miserly, with Garner incorporating a chaos last ball of each over - out of his 5 overs 2 finished with a 4 ball and 2 finished with a wicket ball. His spell ended up with 2-15. Hale was equally miserly but in his first spell he didn’t get the wicket he deserved. However, at the end of the innings the pair combined to get Hale a well deserved wicket - a stunning one handed grab low down by Garner at first slip being a fair reward. The change of bowlers brought a change of pace, with Wedge and Foyster again bowling mystery balls, being on tight lines from the start (albeit the opening batter described Foyster as ‘a kid who’d been in the nets all winter’ with her ability to immediately find the right line. As chances were created and the pressure built, catches were taken at every opportunity. Alhat nonchalantly attempted a one handed catch off Foyster before realising that on juggling, 2 hands were safer for her to pick up her first wicket in April in years. All the youngsters bowled brilliantly, with Lyra MacLeod having a catch taken by Singh at point stretching above his head and finally Corbyn MacLeod, on debut, capturing his first ever wicket in adult cricket, having a batter caught by the safe hands of his dad! The bowling was tight, but the opposition just had a bit too much batting and saw themselves to victory with 6 overs to spare. A thoroughly entertaining match, played in the best spirit throughout on a picturesque day. Summer is officially here