Braintree Cricket Club’s First XI got back to winning ways when they beat Bury St Edmunds Seconds by 15 runs at St Peter’s Road last Saturday. This was another excellent all round performance from the Dolphins however it was Captain, Chris Leech who was the star of the show scoring 98 runs with the bat and then returning figures of 6 for 51 with the ball.

At one stage during the week, with so many players not available for selection, it looked as though the club would struggle to name two full teams. However, President Steve Blyth saved the day by recruiting friends and family to ensure that both sides fielded eleven players.

Chris Leech lost the toss and surprisingly in temperatures approaching the mid 30’s, was asked to bat first by the opposition skipper. Taking full advantage of the lightning quick outfield Leech himself found the boundary ropes no fewer than six times in the opening two overs. However, from the first ball of the third over Braintree lost their first wicket as Matt Renvoize offered Ben Curran a simple catch off the bowling of Viv Rajagopal.

Geoff Eveling joined his captain at the crease and with a combination of boundaries and singles the pair put on 117 runs for the second wicket. Unfortunately, when just one run short of his half century Eveling was deceived by Ben Moyle and he could only tamely return the ball back to the bowler. Adam Ward, who is a tennis coach not a cricketer lasted just two balls as he was beaten by Moyle’s guile and was stumped by Mike Skelton.

Rory Ainsley and Leech continued with the boundary and single scenario, however for the second time this season when within touching distance of a century, Leech edged a delivery from Yann Johnson to wicket keeper Skelton. The Dolphin’s captain’s innings of 98 lasted a fraction under two hours and contained 17 fours. Lawrence Carr then became Moyle’s third victim as he pushed the ball into the hands of Oliver Riddock without scoring.

Johnson’s next over was one of the strangest ever witnessed on Braintree’s ground, the Bury bowler suddenly lost all sense of line and length as he conceded a grand total of 40 runs off it. The over comprised of 2 sixes, 4 fours, 11 wides and a no ball! Ainsley went on to score 66 before he was bowled by Ben Curran. Chris Hinks had struck 3 boundaries during the crazy over but lost his wicket as he was caught on the boundary by Riddock.

Braintree’s innings closed on 279 for the loss of 7 wickets with Luke Gouldstone and George Blyth remaining unbeaten on 13 and 5, respectively.

Replying Bury got off to a slow but steady start as James Sturgeon and Tom Curran acclimatised themselves to the wicket. Braintree, already with a depleted bowling attack, were dealt a further blow as Gouldstone only bowled twelve balls meaning that Ainsley and Leech would end up bowling 22 overs between them. In the end it worked out in Leech’s favour.

The openers eventually got going and had put on 121 runs for the first wicket when Curran (47) drove a delivery straight back to Chris Hinks who took an excellent catch. Having scored 67, Sturgeon was given out caught behind by Matt Renvoize off the bowling of Ainsley, the Bury skipper insisted he hadn’t hit the ball; however, the decision had been made.

Leech brought himself on to bowl and immediately claimed the wicket of Brad Bosman (25) whose drive was brilliantly caught by Geoff Eveling, in the very next over he had Ben Curran (7) caught and bowled. Eveling had only conceded 11 runs from his opening 7 overs bowling uphill, changing ends he straight away clean bowled Oliver Riddock for 14 and then dismissed Fin Bonas (1) in similar fashion.

The Dolphin’s skipper then took centre stage for the second time in the match, Ben Moyle (19) had his stumps demolished for his third wicket and next over Viv Rajagopal (10) was caught by Hinks. Yann Johnson attempted to make amends for the disastrous over than he’d bowled earlier in the day with a cameo knock of 32 before he was trapped LBW and two balls later Kirk Bonas was caught by Lawrence Carr to become Leech’s sixth victim. Bury St Edmunds found themselves all out for 264, 16 runs short of victory