After last weeks game was abandoned the table topping Dolphins returned to action for the visit of Bury St Edmunds.

After an overcast morning persuaded the BSE captain into choosing to bowl first after winning the toss, openers Matt Renvoize and Chris Hinks made their way to the crease and with just 1 legal delivery in the book Hinks decided to hit the opening bowler back over his head for a glorious maximum. As has been the theme in recent weeks, Hinks got Braintree off to a flier only to be dismissed for 19 after playing on whilst leaving a ball and being bowled in the 2nd over of the game.
With Renvoize yet to face a ball, Dan Chalk strode to crease looking to build a partnership with Renvoize.

Renvoize having found some form in recent weeks was timing the ball well and pushing the score on whilst Chalk was being watchful early in his innings.
The partnership was broken when Chalk was adjudged to be out LBW to Joe Corder who was starting to bowl a tight line to the right hander.

Bryn Powell’s stay at the crease didn’t last long and after a glorious cut shot for four was out in similar fashion to Hinks by playing on. With Braintree 47/3 there was danger of a collapse.
However, Josh Newman set about the opening bowlers and played some glorious drives to keep the scoreboard ticking. Renvoize was still at the other end playing shots to anything outside off stump with good success.
The tempo changed when Renvoize slog swept 2 consecutive balls for 6 and started to put the BSE bowlers under pressure.
With the partnership worth 68, Newman was unlucky to see a ball come off the splice of the bat and find its way to the man at gully. Louis Cant came to the crease and was bounced out by the 15 year old pace bowler Josh Owen.

Renvoize was starting to run out of partners and again had to adjust the way he was playing to ensure a competitive score was on the board. Geoff Eveling supported him well, running quick singles, some that were too quick with Matt surviving a very close run out whilst on 70. With 200 on the board and Matt starting to tire he decided it was time to attack the BSE bowlers only to play one too many attacking shots and be caught for a well made 95 off just 89 balls.
Matt Childs came to the crease and like he has done recently pushed the score on quickly. Eveling departed for a well-made 39 on his return to the 1st XI having been key in the middle overs and preventing a collapse.

Unfortunately, with Matt Childs soon following back to the pavilion with 25 to his name Braintree were dismissed for 251 which was seen as around par for the day.

Josh Newman with the new ball in hand for the 2nd game in a row provided Braintree with some good pace to start, unfortunately for him the Bury openers enjoyed the pace on the ball and along with Robbie Spalding from the other end went rewardless for their hard work early on.

The Bury openers got off to a great start and were 80/0 at drinks with spin the only thing to slow the scoring rate down.

After drinks the Bury moved through the gears and were 165/0 in the 33rd over. With just 87 required for victory Will Robbins into his 2nd spell got a vital breakthrough when captain James Sturgeon played on to his own stumps and was bowled for 75 offering Braintree a lifeline.
It was Robbins again who got the next breakthrough when he tactically fumbled the ball which caused confusion in the middle and left the set opening batsman on 84 stranded in the middle of the wicket to be run out.
With 2 new batsman at the crease and 74 runs still required for victory at 7.4 an over the pressure was on the new batsman to score at a good rate. This proved to be difficult as the Braintree bowlers bowled with great poise and accuracy. Robbie Spalding took the next wicket after the pressure had got to the batsman and he holed out to Himesh Patel in the deep who took a good catch after fielding like a demon for he day.

Robbins uprooted the off stump of Howland in the next over and Braintree were starting to feel confident that a win was possible. Spalding then took 2 wickets in his next over. McKinney being bowled for 13 and Aldous to a good low catch from Renvoize behind the stumps.

It was left down to Chris Hinks to clear up the tail like he so often has. He took three wickets, all bowled in 2 overs but the highlight was a 50 yard direct hit run out to run out the last batsman.
Braintree winning by 28 runs. A fantastic performance in the field from everyone, especially Himesh Patel who chased everything and kept everyone believing that win was still within our reach even at 165/0
The Dolphins go marching on!