Braintree's second team extended the gap between themselves and the relegation places to 40 points with a convincing win over mid table Kesgrave.

Having (surprisingly) been asked to bat on a hot and sunny afternoon Braintree sensed an opportunity as they welcomed back Jamie Foyster, Jeremy Hollingsworth and Keith Merrell to give their batting line up a boost and it was the former 2 that would have a huge impact as they put on a 3rd wicket stand of 137.

Things could not have started worse for the Essex outfit as Dave Hale was early on a defensive push to present a return catch to Calum Brooks in the first over to leave Braintree 0-1 and that became 15-2 when Joe Osborne edged to 1st slip for 8. You could forgive a little nervousness in the camp at this stage but Foyster & Hollingsworth stayed cool in the heat and set about rebuilding the innings. The pace, or lack of, in the Kesgrave attack made it difficult to find a rhythm but there were enough loose balls to punish and, in the main, they both put them away with ease. Both players passed 50 within a few overs of each other but the partnership was brought to an end when Hollingsworth looked to take Jakka over midwicket only to have his leg stump knocked back. This brought Keith Merrell back to the crease after a long injury lay off and together with Foyster they kept the scorecard ticking until the latter received a ball that turned and spat out of the wicket taking the edge and drawing a fine catch out of the effervescent Marques behind the stumps. Foyster's excellent 82 came off just 83 balls and included fourteen 4's and a six.

Ian Johnson came and went as he was bowled around his legs for 0 but this just brought the in-form Sherry to wicket. Having survived an early scare he unleashed on the Kesgrave attack with powerful drives and pulls until he was bowled by Nathan Pryke for 54 from just 32 balls.

Braintree would finish on 272-7 with Merrell unbeaten on 28 at the close

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The Dolphins were looking to get amongst the Kesgrave batting early and they were given that luxury as Sherry bowled Marques with the 3rd ball to leave Kesgrave 0-1 and with the first ball of his second over caught the edge of Andy Trevor's bat who could only watch as Merrell took the catch at the second attempt at first slip. 2-2 became 28-3 in the 9th over as that same combination saw the back of Battula for 2 and Ryan Hoyle was the next to go as he struggled with Jamie Foyster's excellent line. Fluent outside the off stump he couldn't get the middle and leg line away and eventually popped a simple catch up to Andy Sherry at square leg.

Kesgrave skipper Nathan Pryke had settled in by now and was dispatching anything loose but while the runs were ticking along in a partnership of 53 with Callum Brooks, chances were coming and going and the required rate was still climbing. It was Keith Merrell who broke that partnership as he bowled Brooks for 28 and would also be the one to remove Pryke for a well made 71 as he mistimed a slog sweep only to find Sherry at deep mid-wicket who clung on well as the ball arrived out of the sun. The game was up now and the quest for points became the priority. Dave Hale bowled Tom Webb for 34 to leave Kesgrave 7 down but Minhas and Jakka held on to leave Braintree with an 18 point haul.



A great win for Braintree II's and an important one as they strive for survival