Braintree's Under 12 side visited league leaders Kelvedon and came within a whisker of avenging the early season defeat at St Peters Road as they fell just 3 runs short in a thrilling chase.

Skipper Lucas Hale, was asked to bowl when he lost the toss and wickets tumbled from the first over as the home side slumped to 23-8. Corbyn MacLeod started the collapse as he took the wicket of Ibrihim Rehman for 0 and in the next over Zach Peacock had Luca Wren well caught at point by Bertie Burnside without scoring, the only batsmen to be caught as 9 of Kelvedon's wickets were bowled. MacLeod took the wicket of Oscar Atkinson in his next over as he continued to get the ball to move away off the seam and Kelvedon were in trouble at 3-3. Following his 5 wicket haul in the U11's the previous week, Harry Macklin then claimed the wicket of
Arran McKim for 1 before Lucas Hale cleaned up Hudson Burdett andRyan Whittick in the 7th over as Kelvedon fell to 17-6. Opener Leo Porter had stood at one end watching the wickets fall around him as he patiently negotiated the Braintree bowlers but young leg spinner Henry Butler managed to breach his defences with a beautifully flighted ball which clipped the top of off stump and he has to go for 8. The following ball saw Austin Thompson-Arnold's bails disturbed and Butler found himself on a hattrick. That wasn't to be but a bright start from a lad with a big future ahead of him. Kelvedon then fought back with an excellent partnership of 49 between Winston Liddell (23*) and Joshua Westall (17) as they took the attack back to the visitors with some aggressive shot making. Hale brought himself and MacLeod back into the attack and they both claimed their 3rd wickets. Hale struck with the first ball of his return to remove Westall before MacLeod did likewise to new bat Webster with the final ball of the 18th over.

Kelvedon's fight back meant Braintree had a tough chase against arguably the best bowling attack in the league and they started watchfully with just 2 runs coming from the first 3 overs. With Will Sherry and Danny Orr unavailable for this game they were a little lighter in the batting line up than usual so it was key to make sure they took the game deep and by the 9th over the new opening partnership of Hale and Bertie Burnside had moved the score on to 32 with both of them having taken blows to the helmet from the pacey Aaron McKim. they showed a lot of bravery to keep getting behind the ball and looking to score before disaster struck early in the 10th over as Burnside looked for a run that wasn't on and was run out for an excellent and courageous 5. Zach Peacok was then undone by an excellent ball from Westall the following ball and just 10 runs later Braintree lost in form batter Jake Lee as he was out in unfortunate circumstances having edged to the keeper who parried the ball to Thompson-Arnold at fly-slip. Will Gregory joined Hale in the middle at 42-3 with 34 runs needed from 8.4 overs and an excellent partnership took them to within 15 runs of victory. Without taking too many risks both players ticked the scorecard over nicely until Hale, tiring after a 57 ball knock, could only find the toe of the bat attempting to drive and lobbed the ball up to a joyous Akim at mid-off for an excellent 33.
2.1 overs to go, 15 runs required - the target was well within reach. A bye from the final ball of the over left the target at 14 from 2 and when Gregory pulled Wren majestically to the midwicket boundary from the 4th ball of the 19th and followed it with 2 through point from the next ball, it was getting tense with 7 runs needed from 7 balls. However, Wren came back with a superb delivery which caught the edge of Gregory's bat and was well taken by the keeper to swing the pendulum once more. Hudson Burdett then delivered 2 excellent yorkers and as the pressure built Butler was run out for 1. Three balls to go still 7 needed. Will Stacey picked up a single from the 5th to leave MacLeod needing a maximum to win the game but Burdett held his nerve and a kept it to 2 to get his side home by 3 runs.
A thrilling game and another excellent performance from the Dolphins under 12's who should be proud of the shift they put in against an excellent side.