Braintree CC’s second XI were heavily beaten at home to Felixstowe. Although, at one point, they were very much in the game.

Braintree began their innings looking to be patient but early on Matt Kent was bowled and quickly after Dave Hale was caught behind, a good catch from the keeper from a leaping ball. After a couple of boundaries, two more wickets quickly followed as Hollingsworth and Johnston both fell. Soon after, the skipper Andrew Sherry was gone too via a magnificent leg side stumping from the keeper. Charlie Garner and Dan King then started to build a small partnership with some quick singles and the odd boundary. After being dropped by the keeper, Garner was caught at backward point off the bowling of Abdul HaqWafa, who incredibly went on to take 5-15 from 7 overs, a remarkable performance from the young man. After a couple of well struck boundaries, king also fell, caught in the deep. The rest of the innings was wrapped up pretty quickly as Braintree folded to 97 all out.

Braintree knew they needed a lot of early wickets If they were to have any chance have grabbing a win. The opening pair of Dan King and Andrew Sherry kept it tight early on and both were rewarded with an early caught behind, both of which were well taken by the Keeper Hollingsworth. Sherry then struck twice more, cleaning up Shipley and Gardner with two nearly identical yorkers. At 9-4, Braintree believed they had a genuine chance of pulling of a miraculous win. However, any chance of that was put to bed by Ross Warne, who slogged his way to 48 not out to finish the job for his team. At the other end, sheldrake’s edge was beaten over and over again by the metronomic Dan king, who’s figures of 1-28 from 7 do not reflect how well he bowled. The chase was completed very quickly in the end, the victory taking just 15.4 overs. Not an easy game for the team, but still a lot of fight shown and positives to take.
They will hope to end the season in style as they travel to Woodbridge next week knowing there place in division six next season is now secure.