Braintree’s Under 13’s got their first win of the season as they clinched a nail biting, last ball victory over local rivals Coggeshall.

On an evening contrasting to the recent sweltering conditions Theo Sherry won the toss and chose to chase on a very worn pitch but what looked to be a fast outfield. Coggeshall started off watchfully against the opening pair of Sherry and Lucas Hale but limited Braintree to just 1 early opportunity as Hale induced a top edge from the bat of Max Saffer. Agonisingly the ball was to bounce out of the diving Jakes Lee’s hands as he took a heavy fall on attempting the catch, a fall that would lead to the Braintree ‘keeper having to leave the field after 15 overs suffering the effects of a bang to the head. Following a maiden from debutant Corbyn Macleod it was Joe Chaplin that made the breakthrough as he bowled Max Saffer for 8 and the very next ball had Freddie Finch well caught in the covers by Lucas Hale to leave Coggeshall 12-2 in the 6th over.
Harry Smith and Hunter Lightfoot then put on 23 for the 3rd wicket before the former offered a return catch to Will Sherry for 13 before Luke Huckson rattle the timber of Lighfoot in the next over for 7. At 36-4 from 11 overs Coggeshall were in trouble, but Ted Lesiak and Johnny Howard set about digging them out and that’s what they did with an excellent partnership of 65. Despite some excellent bowling from Braintree they managed to up the rate with some clever running and anything getting passed the infield making its way to the fence. The partnership was ended on the final ball of the innings as Theo Sherry calmly under armed in to run out Howard for 19 while Lesiak remained unbeaten on 27.

Braintree knew they had a big opportunity but suffered an early set back as Joe Chaplin was bowled for 2 in the 3rd over to leave them 9-1. Will Sherry came in to join brother Theo and the pair took the score past 50 with some sumptuous stroke play. Will showing his classy touch with a couple of glorious clips through square leg whilst Theo looked to dominate down the ground and through square. In the 10th over however, with the score on 55, the game took a twist as Will sherry was caught and bowled by Ollie Walsh and 3 balls later Luke Huckson chipped to cover to give Walsh a second scalp. In the next over, talisman Theo Sherry was caught at point off a thick outside edge to give Leo Wade his first wicket and his second came of the very next ball as Zach Peacock was unfortunate to be bowled by a ball that bounced out of nowhere and landed on top of his stumps to leave the Dolphins on 63-5 – a loss of 4 wickets for 8 runs. Lucas Hale knew he needed to bat through to give Braintree hope but at the same time needed to be positive and he showed that in the 14th over as hit Ted Lesiak back over his head twice in the over for 4 but from the final ball of that over a mix up saw George Martin run out. 74-6….
George Wedge then joined Hale at the wicket and in the 15th over the latter bludgeoned another 2 boundaries to take 11 runs from it – 87-6, the Dolphins were back in the game. Just 1 run from the 16th over as Wedge kept out an excellent over from Lesiak, the run rate was not a huge concern, they just couldn’t lose wickets at this point. Nerves were more evident in the crowd that on the pitch as they took 6 runs from the 17th courtesy of 4 byes and some good running so with 3 overs to go the requirement was now 9 but from the 3rd ball of the 18th disaster struck Wedge was caught for 1 to end a very important stay at the crease. Danny Orr joined Hale at the crease and saw out the rest of the over, with Jake Lee not able to bat there were only 2 wickets remaining so occupation was vital at this stage. Hunter Lightfoot bowled the penultimate over with just 11 to defend and what an over he sent down. No extras and just 3 singles allowed as he gave nothing for Orr, and more importantly Hale to throw their hands at. So Harry Smith had the task of defending 8 in the final 6 balls with the dangerous looking Hale on strike. The first ball was full and straight, and Hale could only dig it out to mid on and take a single to give Orr the opportunity to write the headlines. No runs from the second ball as Orr was forced to defend but excellent running gave him a single off the 3rd to leave 6 to get from 3 balls with Hale, on 23, facing up. Smith went full and straight from the 4th ball of the over and Hale couldn’t get it away so 6 from 2…. now a boundary was needed and from the 5th ball Hale was given some width and smashed the ball over cover finding a gap in the widespread field to cross the rope delighting the travelling supporters and his young Dolphin teammates. 1 ball, 2 runs to win, 1 to tie, none for the unthinkable. What would Hale do with the field spread? Drop and run, pick up the tie and move on? No chance! The final ball was length on leg stump, and he thumped it toward the boundary at wide long on – Max Saffer was underneath it with a chance to win it for Coggeshall but no, a difficult, steepling catch was shelled and the batsmen had already completed 1 and were turning for the second which they completed by the skin of their teeth to bring the points home. Orr finished on 2 and Hale an excellent 29 from just 28 balls as the rest of the team ran on to congratulate them. A fantastic game of cricket with a nail-biting finish and well deserved win for the Dolphins!