Braintree (246) Beat Haverhill (176-7) by 70 runs

Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division one

BRAINTREE edged closer to division one safety with a comprehensive 70-run victory over Haverhill.

The Dolphins host Halstead at Panfield Lane this weekend, looking for a further victory to cement a second season in the division.

Braintree captain Will Jackson won the toss and elected to bat looking to post a formidable total.

But Braintree got off to a bad start as Dean Bass edged a delivery from Andy Argent into Anthony Phillips' hands, having scored just a single.

Warren Celiz joined Chris Leech at the crease and the pair patiently rebuilt the innings after the early damage, putting on 58 for the second wicket.

Celiz had scored 23 when he too got an edge, this time to fellow wicket keeper Dave Humphrey.

The reliable Gareth Fisher and Leech continued to frustrate the Haverhill attack both reaching their half centuries off 80 plus deliveries.

Having made their way to 129 runs off 35 overs and with the wickets of the big hitters in hand, the total that Jackson was looking for was more than feasible.

When on 58 though, Leech was drawn out of his ground by Callum Brunning and Humphrey duly had him stumped.

Fisher lost his wicket soon after as he was beaten by a direct throw and was run out for 53.

Dan Chalk was enjoying himself once again hitting two enormous sixes, whilst at the other end Rory Ainsley quickly made 14 before he was cleaned bowled by Dan Pass.

Braintree looking to push on, lost their way a little as Phillips claimed a hat-trick dismissing Dan Garner (eight) from the last ball of his first over and Quincy Titterton (three) and Ben Golds off the first two from his second.

A total of 188 for four had soon become 215 for eight.

Jackson, batting down the order, joined Chalk and the pair made hay as the sun shone putting on 34 in just 14 balls.

However, both fell to catches in the deep by Phillips off Joe Woodley's bowling in the final over, Chalk having scored 45 and Jackson 25.

From their allotted 50 overs, Braintree had reached 246 runs, perhaps 30 short of what they had hoped for.

Haverhill got off to an even worse start in reply, as Sam Hartshorn could only manage to get a leading edge to Quincy Titterton’s opening delivery and Dan Garner comfortably took the resulting catch.

The dangerous Chris Palmer and Anthony Phillips pushed the score along putting on 48 for the second wicket until Ben Golds had the former caught by Rory Ainsley for 23.

Jackson then rung the changes and introduced Dean Bass and Dan Garner into the bowling attack.

With the pace taken off the ball, Haverhill struggled to score runs and in their frustration, Phillips was run out for 29 following Titterton's smart piece of work and Sam Powell (eight) was stumped by Celiz off Garner’s bowling.

Dave Humphrey could only add four runs in 35 minutes before his stumps were dismantled as the hosts lost five wickets for 81 runs.

From their allotted ten overs each, Bass conceded only 19 runs with Garner going for just 14.

With time running out, Ruthven (23) and Pass (31) at last managed to get bat to ball.

But it was too little too late, as Haverhill stumbled to 176 for seven at the close to leave Braintree winners.