Braintree CC 2nd XI made it 3 wins out of 3 with a convincing 196 run win over Sudborne Hall, with Dave Hale striking a majestic 144 to set up the victory.

Hale and Ian Johnston opened up and made a patient start, both reaching 20 each inside the first 10 overs, with Johnston striking large six in the process before he was bowled by Ian firth for 24. Guy Walton also passed 20 before he too was bowled by Firth all while Hale built towards 50. Andrew Sherry proved an able partner for Hale, going at around a run a ball while Hale passed 50 at the other end before starting to motor on the way to his century. During his innings, he struck multiple of his trademark lofted drives, as well as flicks through midwicket. He eventually reached his century with a boundary, the clubs first ton of the season. He continued on his merry way, while Sherry fell leg before for 36. That left the score at 192-3, and from then on Hale found the boundary at will, going from 100 to 144 in only 20 balls before being caught by Firth off the bowling of Robert Mark. Skipper Andrew Gowers bludgeoned a quick fire 32, with Charlie Garner supporting with 17 as the score neared 300. Gowers was trapped in front by Charles Jackson, before Himesh Patel came and went and Garner was caught in the deep, also off the bowling of Jackson. Arindam Ganguly and Lee Fullgrabe ended well, finishing on 11* and 6* respectively as the score reached 308-7, a very imposing total from the dolphins.

A great score on the board, but Braintree still needed to bowl well to ensure the victory was sealed on a flat deck. The opening pair of Theo Sherry and Leigh Garner kept it tight early on, Sherry particularly troubling the opening pair Of Nick Joel and TIm Kent. It was Garner however who picked up the first wicket Sneaking through the defences of Kent. Sherry soon struck with a beauty to remove Joel, the score at 11-2. Ian Firth added a bit of impetus to innings, striking 5 boundaries in his 24 before Patel removed him with a Yorker. Fullgrabe was then brought on and and after finding his line and length, forced Simon Letchford to chop on for 21 to leave the score at 59-4. Fullgrabe soon picked up another as Joseph cooper had his stumps dismantled. Patel soon picked up another soon after as he had Andy Halliday well caught in the gully by Johnston. Two more wickets fell before the score reached 100 as the skipper Gowers and C Garner picked up a wicket each to leave the score at 97-8. Gowers picked up a second as R mark was cleaned up after some persistent straight bowling. The final wicket took a while to come, before regular opening bowler Andrew Sherry came on to finish the innings off on 112, Gowers pouching a simple catch at cover to remove Peter Mark.

A great win for the dolphins to continue a great start to the year, with the club yet to lose a game this season. The second xi will help to get another win next week away at Copford.