Braintree Cricket Club’s First Eleven welcomed local rivals Dunmow to St. Peters Road last Saturday, unfortunately it was the visitors who returned home along the A120 with a victory under their belts.

The Dunmow captain won the toss and invited Braintree to bat first on a wicket that was being used for the first time since an artificial one was removed two years ago.

The Dolphins openers Chris Leech and Matt Renvoize got their team off to an excellent start putting on 50 runs inside the first 10 overs. However, Renvoize having contributed 12 to the opening partnership played his first loose shot of the afternoon and found his stumps dismantled by Sam Mixture.

Unfortunately, from then on wickets tumbled on a regular basis. Not for the first time this season Leech could only stand and watch from the non-strikers end as his teammates made their way to the middle and quickly trudged back to the pavilion. Geoff Eveling (2) edged a short pitched delivery to Damien Westwood behind the stumps and then a smart piece of work by the keeper saw Josh Newman (1) stumped. Chris Hinks (0) and Luke Gouldstone (2) were both bowled by deliveries that kept low from Ben Spargo and Mel Hussain, respectively.

Louis Cant joined his captain at the crease and the pair put on 30 runs for the sixth wicket. However, having moved comfortably on to 9, Cant hit out to a ball from Josh Rix but was only successful in finding the safe hands of Pascoe on the mid-wicket boundary. Leech reached his half century with a sweetly placed shot through the covers, but he too found himself back in the pavilion straightaway as he got the finest of edges to the wily Baz Sewell’s first delivery of the day.

Karl Parker (2), Himesh Patel (4) and Andy Gowers (6) did their best to hang around in the hope of gaining an extra batting point, but they fell just short as Braintree were all out for 121 with Josh Paget (1) not out once again. The Dolphins were thankful for extras that were second highest scorer with 28!

In reply Dunmow were soon in trouble as Chris Hinks claimed the prize wicket of Mel Hussain, bowling the Division’s leading run scorer for just 6 and soon after had Damien Westwood (6) caught by Chris Leech.

Joe Gallant hit three boundaries however he was unable to focus on a full toss bowled by Himesh Patel and Luke Gouldstone took an excellent catch. When Patel had Ben Spargo (10) caught behind by Matt Renvoize, Dunmow had been reduced to 48 for the loss of 4 wickets off 17 overs.

If Braintree could claim another wicket or two, they would be into the opposition’s tail unfortunately James Reid had other ideas as the Dunmow man swung the bat and connected with the ball on a number of occasions. Having hit three sixes, he attempted a fourth but this time found the hands of Josh Newman on the boundary ropes.

Cameron Gibson and Paul Reid comfortable saw Dunmow past the winning total with five wickets and thirteen overs to spare. Braintree fielded and bowled well with Chris Hinks conceding just 30 runs from his 12 overs and Josh Paget was unlucky not to take a wicket as he went for only 20 off 6 overs. However, it was always going to be difficult defending such a low total