After beating two of the top three teams in the Two Counties Championship Division 2 already this month, Braintree Cricket Club’s First XI were hoping for a third win on the trot when they visited Copford last Saturday. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned as the Dolphins lost by 4 wickets in a low scoring game.

The Braintree team sheet showed four changes to the previous week, with Adam Westall being the latest Colt to be handed his First XI debut and he certainly showed his worth in the side. For the seventh consecutive game Chris Leech won the toss and elected to bat first.

Braintree soon found themselves in trouble though as openers Leech and Matt Renvoize both found their stumps dismantled by Paul Court having scored only 10 and 9, respectively. Things got from bad to worse as the Dolphins were reduced to 34 for 4 inside 10 overs, as Tom Helmer trapped Chris Hinks (5) and then took a return catch to dismiss Luke Gouldstone (0).

Young Adam Westall joined the very much older Geoff Eveling at the crease and the pair slowly built a partnership. Having started his innings tentatively the debutant soon gained confidence striking two boundaries in quick succession. Unfortunately, after contributing 23 runs to a partnership of 62, Westall was run out. Court was brought back into the bowling attack and he quickly had Eveling (having scored 37) adjudged LBW.

Braintree’s tail failed to wag as Glen Newham (2), Andrew Gowers (0), Macauley Waight (0) and Karl Parker (5) all had short stays at the crease. Only Himesh Patel managed to hang around for any length of time and was 17 not out as the Braintree innings closed on just 133.

Copford’s innings got off to a lucky start as Ian Catley edged Luke Gouldstone’s first delivery over wicket keeper Matt Renvoize’s head for six and in the same over scored a four in similar fashion. Gouldstone found the edge of Pat Geddis’s bat too, but this time Renvoize was able to take the catch. Although they had taken a wicket, Braintree’s pace attack also conceded 49 runs in the opening 6 overs.

Himesh Patel was brought on to bowl and quickly claimed the wickets of Catley (38), caught behind by Renvoize and James Gallagher (4) caught by Hinks. Runs continued to flow though, however when Hinks had Keith Sargeant (24) caught by Leech, Tom Lawson (0) caught by Waight and Tom Helmer (20) caught by Westall an outside chance of a win looked a possibility. It wasn’t to be though as Rob Tuckwell took a big swing and managed to top edge the ball for six and with it victory for the home side.

This coming Saturday Braintree will be looking to get back to winning ways with a home game against bottom of the table Lakenheath