Saturday saw Braintree 2’s look to get back to winning ways with an excellent 9 wicket win over struggling Copford II’s. Despite significant rain before the start the game was able to start on time, mainly due to the excellent work of Guy Walton on ground duties. The toss was lost, with the opposition choosing to bat in the sunshine, and Braintree opening with Theo Sherry and Josh Paget back from his paternity break.

Bowling tight lines from both ends, it was difficult for the batters to get any rhythm, and Paget made the opening breakthrough when he cleaned bowled ex-Dolphin Darren Dellar for 7. Having spurned a couple of chances early Braintree were relieved to get amongst the top order but were dealt a blow when Sherry felt a twinge in his back. He was replaced by Joe Osborne, who looked to avenge the dropped catches that had headed his way, and he dispatched Vinter for 13 with a plumb LBW call, bringing a partnership of James Monks and Bezgoan to the crease. Monks was hitting the ball true and far in a fluid 40, but the partnership was broken when captain Gowers had Bezgoan LBW.

Gowers then set a trap for the dangerous James Monks and fed him a hit me ball which he fed directly to Osborne on the mid-wicket boundary.

Spin was then introduced in the form of Dan Garner, and after knocking out the rust he kept matters tight and brought about an edge caught, running from first to leg slip by Dave Hale. Sensing the need for spin Hale was then brought into the attack, and made short work of dispatching Soteriou, who had been like a wall at one end, having him caught in the gully by Johnston.

Hale then made short work of the lower order, leaving it until the very penultimate ball of the innings, after some lusty blows by numbers 9, 10 and 11, to bowl Mollie Monks and return seasons best figures of 4-25 and give Braintree a target of 186.

After tea was taken Hale and Johnston took aim at the target. With contrasting styles Johnston looked to be ultra positive whilst Hale enjoyed the extra pace of Ben Lawson but both found the boundary with regularity during an opening stand but after some good running from the pair, and some lusty blows, Johnston was bowled by Lawson for 23, and Braintree sitting at 50-1 after 5 overs.

That was to be the last wicket of the innings as Garner strode to the crease, and alongside Hale proceeded to put on a masterclass of batting - dealing with the good balls well and taking advantage of anything loose. Hale once again scattered the spectators with one six and Garner found his rhythm in support. It was a chance-less partnership, Hale hitting the winning runs with a maximum which took him agonising close to a second ton of the season, reaching an excellent unbeaten 96 and with Garner 41 not out at the other end Braintree reached their target in just 25.2 overs for the loss of 1 wicket.

A much needed win that keeps them in the title race but more importantly in a great position for promotion back to Division 6