Braintree made the long journey to Melton to take on promotion chasing St Audry's but, on a sweltering day, came away with just 1 point after a tough afternoon.
Stand in skipper Dave Hale got the first task right by winning the toss and batting on a used wicket that looked as though it would deteriorate through the day. He and Matt Kent then got the Dolphins second string off to a steady start as they both found the boundary early but, with the score on 28, Hale (14) got himself into a tangle and chipped the ball to mid wicket where Imogen Sidhu took a simple catch.
Kent was batting with real purpose, driving the ball aggressively at every opportunity but at the other end Joe Osborne was struggling to get to grips with the 2 paced pitch and he too presented a catch to mid wicket as he attempted to move the score along. This brought Charlie Garner to the crease and he and Kent set about rebuilding the innings but having reached 42 though, Kent was yorked by Mawson as he attempted another booming drive.
Ian Johnson came in and set about the bowling immediately finding the cover boundary twice in his first 4 balls but he too got out having got in when he was bowled by the off spin of Jothi Barnley-Sadavasan to leave the visitors on 95-5. Melton then really turned the screw as Callum Lazarus went first ball before Connor Crowley removed Leigh Garner (3), Charlie Garner (15) and Hugo Adams (0) to claim a hat trick on the way to 3-13. Arindam Gangopaghyay and Abdul Kamran put a little cameo together to earn Braintree a point but the former was run out for 12 before Calley Foyster, having stroked Imogen Sidhu to the cover boundary for 4, was bowled the next ball and the innings closed on 122. Kamran finishing 7*.
Braintree knew they needed a good start and the thought they had it when the returning Leigh Garner trapped Eddie Green in front but the finger stayed down to disappointment of the fielding side. Garner did get his man when he had Green caught in the gully by Ian Johnson for 12 but that brought the aggressive Melton Skipper, Tom Sidhu, to the crease and he took the game away quickly striking 6 maximums and 3 fours in his 52* whilst at the other end Ethan Banner enjoyed some good fortune on his way to 51*
Its a huge weekend for the II's this weekend as they entertain Sudbourne Hall, who beat bottom side Sudbury and closed the gap between the 2 sides to 22 points. A victory for Braintree and they would feel all but mathematically safe but if they were to be defeated the race is well and truly back on.
Join us for what is sure to be a great weekend and don't forget matches start at 12:30 from this weekend!