Braintree's U12's finished the year on a high after an excellent chase against Great Totham. Set 98 to win on a sweltering evening they cruised to victory with 3.5 overs to spare thanks to contributions right through the batting order.

Home skipper Lucas Hale won the toss and, as has been his preference all year, chose to chase, but it was Totham that made the better start with Vinay Vijay looking to be aggressive against the new ball. Having seen off the opening pair of Hale and Danny Orr it was Corbyn MacLeod that made the breakthrough as he bowled Vijay around his legs for 22 with the score on 38. Harry Macklin took the next wicket to fall as Dundas chipped to Bertie Burnside at Cover for 5 before Will Sherry bagged Ollie Tollhurst, again bowled around his legs, for 6. At the half way point Totham were 65-3 and still in a posityion to set an imposing total but the Braintree bowlers put the brakes on with an excellent second half. Burnside bowled the dangerous Jacob Day for 13 before player of the match Will Gregory took a simple return catch to see the back of Larkin for 0. Izzy Roots struck a couple of brutal boundaries through the leg side but it was Gregory again who ended her stay as he had her caught behind by Oliver Neal for 10. Henry Butler was rewarded for a fine spell as he had Hawes caught at point by Danny Orr, conceding just 2 from his 2 overs of leg spin the control he showed for such a young leggie was beautiful to watch. George Wedge wrapped up the wicket taking as he bowled Keogh for 4 and a target of 97 was set,

Braintree came out looking to be aggressive from the off and Will Sherry, alongside Lucas Hale, certainly delivered as they took 21 from the first 2 overs with both punishing anything short. It was to be short lived however as both fell in the 3rd over to the pace of Ollie Tolhurst. First Hale (10) looked to pull a ball that was a little too full and a skiddy delivery clipped the top of his leg stump and then Sherry (11) saw his off bail removed by a ball that pitched nearer to middle. Sometimes you just have to give the credit to the bowler!

Danny Orr came in a kept the tempo with a glorious cover drive for 4 from his first ball but his promising innings was ended as he too was bowled, this time by Larkin, for 7. 30-3 became 40-4 when Burnside was bowled by Vijay for 2 which brought Will Gregory and George Wedge together. They ticked the scoreboard over superbly with Gregory particularly confident off of the back foot and Wedge strong on the drive. It was the drinks break and the change of ends that saw the partnership broken as Gregory was trapped in front for a superb 21 but Wedge kept the momentum up alongside Corbyn MacLeod who looked really solid from the moment he arrived at the crease. The chase was completed in the 17th over when Wedge crunched a couple of straight drives to the fence and Braintree's season ended with a well-deserved victory.