Braintree’s 1st XI made the short trip to high flying Witham 2’s looking to avenge defeat from earlier in the season.

Stand in skipper Chris Hinks won the toss and decided to have a bat as Braintree, with Rory Ainsley, Josh Paget, Himesh Patel and Josh Newman back the side looked to bounce back from the defeat to Haverhill the previous week.

The match was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of Witham’s president, Ted Wakelin, who sadly passed away during the previous week.

With the musical entertainment from the fun fair being held in the park next door, Chris Hinks and Matt Renvoize opened the batting looking to take advantage of first use of the deck but with just 1 to his name Renvoize unfortunately had to walk back to the pavilion after a great one hand catch from Witham’s keeper off the bowling of Will Smith. Bryn Powell came to the crease and with his usual flare quickly started to score boundaries but, with the total at just 26, he was caught at slip. Skipper Hinks slowly started to move the scoreboard along and, with the aid of Rory Ainsley, built a partnership of 41 before Ainsley was adjudged, maybe a little harshly, LBW for 12. Josh Newman came to the crease for his first knock of the season and was quickly into his stride as he and Hinks looked to mount a recovery. Chris Hinks brought up his half century but after putting on a lovely partnership of 61 with Newman his stay was ended by a great one handed catch from James Smith on the boundary. Josh Newman also passed 50 and with Robbie Spalding also scoring freely Braintree were working towards posting a defendable total.. Unfortunately going for one too many big hits, Spalding was caught on 45 by Ben Tinham and shortly after Newman was caught by Ollie Cooke at cover for 66. Looking to rebuild Luke Gouldstone and Himesh Patel started to increase the tempo and accelerated the score to 284 before Patel went for 27. The lower order chipped in to take the score to 297 with Gouldstone eventually out playing a reverse paddle for 35.

As in many games this year Robbie Spalding and Luke Gouldstone looked for early wickets and it was Spalding who made the first break through taking the early wicket of Jack Bamford for 14. Following a short spell from Gouldstone, Josh Paget came into the attack and managed to remove the danger man James Smith who scored 52 runs in quick time for the home side. Hinks then brought himself into the attack and took 3 wickets to wipe out the Witham middle order with McDonald, Pawsey and Tinham all heading back to the pavilion. Grace Poole then replaced Paget important wickets with some clinical bowling. Witham did not want to go down without a fight and Will Smith started to take the attack to Braintree but with tight bowling in the last 10 overs meant Witham had a long way to go.
Smith finished with 55* but it wasn’t enough to get them over the line and Braintree were victors by 13 runs.