Braintree’s First Eleven visited Haverhill last Saturday, unfortunately they lost by 57 runs and to make matters worse their opponents leap frogged them into fourth place in the Division Two table.

Due to a late call off Arindam Gangopaghyay was called up to make his first team debut and was joined by young Abdul Kamran who also stepped up from the seconds. Braintree were able to welcome back Robbie Spalding for the first time in a few weeks, Matt Renvoize was unavailable though.

It was the home skipper who won the toss and elected to bat first. He had made a good choice as Sam Hartshorn and Craig Williams got their team off to a good start putting on 74 runs for the first wicket, before the former was clean bowled by Robbie Spalding having scored 27. Geoff Eveling produced a tight spell of bowling for the Dolphins conceding just 11 runs from his opening 5 overs, also claiming the wicket of Russell Davis (13) who was trapped LBW.

Steve Fox joined Williams at the crease and the pair were able to find the boundary on a number of occasions as they put on 82 runs for the third wicket. In the absence of Renvoize, Luke Gouldstone took over wicket keeping duties and showed his prowess behind the stumps by whipping off the bails when Chris Hinks drew Fox out of his crease.

Chris Leech brought himself on to bowl hoping to repeat his form from the previous week, however disaster struck as having bowled just one over he injured himself and could barely put weight on his leg, let alone bowl anymore. Andy Gowers took advantage of the situation though taking the wickets of Williams (58) who was well caught by Gangopaghyay, Sam Chatburn-Jones (9) caught by Hinks and then trapping Khalid Saeed (11) LBW. Haverhill’s innings closed on 269 for the loss of 6 wickets, with Doyl D’Silva unbeaten on 66.

With Leech injured and Renvoize not playing it was Chris Hinks and Arindam Gangopaghyay who opened the Dolphin’s innings; however, the debutant was first to lose his wicket given out caught behind having scored 5. Geoff Eveling joined his vice-captain at the crease and with a combination of cleverly run singles and ensuring that any loose deliveries were despatched to the boundary ropes the pair put on 102 runs for the second wicket. However, having scored 40 Eveling was clean bowled by Callum Brunning and in the very next over Hinks, when on 63, suffered a similar fate this time at the hands of Martin Wilkins.

Robbie Spalding hit a quick fire 28 before he picked out Davis on the boundary off the bowling of Brunning. The Haverhill spinner then took centre stage as he completely deceived Leech and Gowers both first ball to claim a hattrick.

Luke Gouldstone steadily made his way to 28 before he was adjudged LBW to Ben Wilkins. Karl Parker enjoyed himself making his way to 22 as Braintree’s innings ended on 212 for the loss of 7 wickets, well short of the victory target.

Although it wasn’t the result captain Leech was after he praised his team on their efforts, particularly in the field where the midweek rain had made the surface unpredictable.

Things are getting very tight in the middle positions of the Division Two table with just 9 points separating Haverhill in fourth spot and Copford in seventh. With two home games against Dunmow, (who are still in the hunt for promotion) and Little Bardfield plus a trip to Sudbury still to come the Dolphins will be looking for at least a couple of victories to ensure they remain in the top half of the table