Braintree took on Haverhill at home in a bid to continue their fine start to the season on a run of 4 straight wins and when skipper Chris Hinks lost the toss they were asked to bat on a glorious early summers day.

Hinks himself set about the bowling from ball one and had reached 20 when opening partner Matt Renvoize edged to first slip, without troubling the scorers, as his poor form continued. This didn't stop Hinks as he continued to play aggressively but when Chris Leech (6) and Chris Walker (5) came and went Haverhill were in a real position of strength with Braintree 59/3. Will Jackson, making his first appearance of the season, came to the crease and despite being dropped early on, began to find his touch whilst Hinks raced to 50 in the 10th over.

The Haverhill bowlers were under the pump from both ends as Jackson also reached his 50 but as Hinks approached his hundred, he chipped Joeseph Rinaldi to mid on where Ricardo James took a comfortable catch to end his fine innings on 97. An excellent partnership of 129 that pulled Braintree right back into the game.

Jackson continued to lose cricket balls despite not really connecting fully with many of his 7 sixes, but he brought up a sensational 100 off just 85 balls before finally being dismissed for 102 which included a further 8 boundaries to accompany his haul of maximums.

Dan Garner and Bryn Powell both had useful cameos of 24 and 31 respectively to keep the momentum as Braintree finished on 302/9.

Despite putting 302 on the board Chris Hinks reiterated only half the job was done and warned against complacency in the field. It was a good track to bat on and with the dimensions of Braintree’s ground, anything can happen.

The Haverhill openers, knowing they had to get on with it attacked the bowling of Josh Paget and Robbie Spalding with varied success and it was Spalding that made the breakthrough as he out foxed Ricardo James (12) with a brilliantly executed slower ball before uprooting the middle pole of Craig Williams for 0.

Josh Paget had the other opener, Sam Hartshorn, excellently caught at midwicket by Will Jackson for 12 whilst Spalding claimed his third wicket when he bowled Russell Davis for 6. Haverhill at this point we're 32/4 and in danger of a complete collapse.

They finally showed some resistance to the superb bowling display that Braintree where putting on with Harry Ford scoring 21 before Chris Hinks entered the attack and had him well caught by Matt childs for 21

By this point it was clear the game was won as Haverhill showed little intent on chasing the 302 that was posted. They did however have a target of 200 and Braintree of course wanted to claim all 10 wickets. Ben Wilkins and Joseph Rinaldi both scored 50s and had a 114 partnership which frustrated Braintree. When Rinaldi was finally dismissed by Hinks for a well made 65 there was hope that Braintree may be able to bowl Haverhill out.

Captain Ben Wilkins soon followed Rinaldi back to the pavilion after Dan Garner had him caught behind leaving Braintree with a glimmer of hope in the final few overs. Braintree claimed their 8th with the final ball of the match thanks to a Dan Garner LBW and walked away with 19 points in a 99 run win.

Robbie Spalding was the pick of the Braintree attack with figures of 9-4-24-3