Braintree’s under 11’s got back to winning ways after a thumping victory over Great Totham which included a maiden half century for Will Sherry.
With Totham having 9 players a 20 over game was agreed which allowed Braintree to bat 2 players for a second time and proved to be pivotal as 54 runs came from the final pairing of Sherry and Lucas Hale, for the loss of 1 wicket (controversially) with Sherry being the aggressor on this occasion plundering 7 boundaries in the final 4 overs, to equal the 7 he hit in his first stint, in a display of timing and elegance at the crease.
Having been asked to bat first Braintree split up their usual opening pair and Corbyn MacLeod partnered Lucas Hale up front and the 2 of them put on 20 without loss in the first 4 overs. With Hale dispatching anything short to the fence MacLeod looked to be more circumspect but played one glorious cover drive for 4 to give the Dolphins a perfect start.
George Wedge and Elliott Partridge went in 2nd up and moved the score to 34 with some smart batting, much better running and, importantly, solid defence as they went through their set without conceding a wicket. Both batsmen looked confident and played some lovely shots through the offside clearly demonstrating the progress the team has made through the season.
Will Sherry then entered the fray with George Martin and between them accelerated the run rate with 39 runs coming from their 4 overs, again with no wickets conceded, to bring the score to 73 without loss from 12. Sherry was in imperious form as he struck 7 boundaries in his 30 with Martin more than happy to find a gap and give the strike to the form man at the other end.
Bertie Burnside and Jake Lee were the 4th pair and, despite the unfortunate loss of 3 wickets (mainly thanks to some great fielding) scored 18 runs between them to ensure the score was moved along. Burnside again showing his class through the offside while ‘keeper Lee dropped the ball into spaces with ease to ensure the strike was constantly rotated.
With a platform of 76 to build on the final pairing of Hale and Sherry, back together for the end of innings onslaught, put their foot down with Sherry hitting 7 more boundaries in a blistering 31 giving him a total of 61 for the match. The only blot on the scorecard saw Sherry bowled (although it seemed to have bounced twice so arguably shouldn’t have counted) but a net 55 is an awesome performance from the young batter. Hale in the meantime weighed in with 15 of his own but selflessly gave up the strike to let Sherry make his hay.
325 was always going to be a tough ask for Totham and that was quickly made harder when skipper Lucas Hale castled Brown with the first ball of the 2nd over and then repeated the act with the last ball of the 4th to leave Totham behind the 8 ball on 11 – 2 (net 201) after the first 4. Corbyn MacLeod proving an excellent partner for Hale as he gave nothing away on a flat wicket conceding just 8.
Elliott Partridge and George Wedge bowled at the 2 pairing with very similar results as Partridge sent down a maiden in conceding just 5 runs from his 2 overs whilst Wedge claimed 1 wicket for 5 along with a run out, giving the pair a net result of 0 – superb bowling from both the young Dolphins leaving Totham on 201 from 8 overs.
Bertie Burnside and Will Sherry then took a wicket a piece in the 3rd set, one of which to a great catch from Wedge, as Braintree took a firm grip on the game. Some excellent fielding brought about a couple of smart runs outs which piled more pain on the home side and in the final overs MacLeod & Hale took another wicket each. Hale finishing with excellent figures of 3-4 from his 3 overs and Burnside 2-3 from 2 overs.
A very well deserved 97 run victory for the Junior Dolphins as they look to finish a tough season on a high brought about by some excellent batting and bowling but, just as crucially, some fantastic fielding. Not one of these lads flinch when the ball comes in their direction and their awareness of the game is a testament to how much they are developing as a group.