Braintree’s First Eleven visited Kesgrave on Saturday to play their First Eleven who were relegated from Division One last season. Following the previous weeks narrow defeat, a better result was hoped for, unfortunately that wasn’t the case as we suffered a 7 wicket defeat.
With Chris Leach unavailable Chris Hinks took over the captain’s role. However, it was his counterpart who won the toss putting the Dolphin’s into bat on a green wicket, with the outfield resembling a ploughed field having been a football pitch over winter and on top of this there were no sightscreens!
Ismail Mohammed, who had taken 6 wickets the previous week, opened the bowling from the hedge end and almost immediately caused the Braintree batters problems. Matt Renvoize and Bryn Powell managed to survive the opening 6 overs putting on 22 runs, unfortunately having scored 9, Matt was first to lose his wicket as he was trapped LBW.
Mohammed continued to rip through the Dolphins batting as he had Powell (15) caught behind by Matt Oliver, Geoff Eveling (1) and Rory Ainsley (0) were both clean bowled, Robbie Spalding (0) was adjudged LBW, Luke Gouldstone (5) also snicked off to the wicket keeper and Grace Poole (4) became his seventh victim when she was caught by Dan McCall off the final ball of his spell.
When Karl Parker was caught by Ben Garnham off the bowling of Sam Godward without scoring, Braintree had been reduced to 79 for the loss of 8 wickets. Only Chris Hinks had shown any resistance as he and Milo Edwards put on 40 runs for the ninth wickets. Edwards, on his debut, put together a dogged 11 from 59 balls until he was caught by Oliver off the bowling of Garnham.
Mohammed was unable to take Hinksy’s wicket when he was bowling, however he was in the right place on the boundary to catch the Dolphin’s captain for 57. Joel Ainsley (2) remained unbeaten a Braintree were all out for 123.
In reply, Kesgrave were quickly reduced to 14 for the loss of both their opening batters as Luke Gouldstone’s pace was virtually unplayable, demolishing the stumps of Dan McCall and Mike Worne. Initially Matt Oliver and Nick Godward struggled too and after 20 overs they had only pushed the score along to 44.
Eventually the home batters took control and pushed the total passed the 100 mark. Gouldstone was brought back into the attack and quickly struck having Godward caught by Matt Renvoize for 40. By now Oliver was seeing the ball well and moved onto 49 with Kesgrave needing just a single for victory. However, he was denied his half century as Gouldstone, trying too hard, was adjudged to have bowled a no ball, therefore ensuring the home side victory.