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Braintree cruise to opening day win
Braintree cruised to a seven-wicket victory against newly-promoted Stowmarket in their opening game of the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties League division four season.
After winning the toss and inserting the home side into bat on a damp pitch, the 2007 division five champions were soon in trouble.
A superb piece of fielding in the covers by Barry Stephens ran out Gill in the second over.
And when Spreadbury was caught by Chris Leach at square leg, off the bowling of Danny King, Stowmarket had only scored 11 runs with their two most experienced batsmen back in the pavilion.
After King had taken his second wicket to leave Stowmarket on 43 for three, the runs completely dried up for the home side and wickets fell at regular intervals.
Andy Sherry replaced King and continued the tone by taking a wicket with his first delivery thanks to a sharp catch by wicket-keeper Andy Ledgerton.
Sherry then bowled through to the end of the innings, taking three wickets from 12 overs for a miserly 12 runs.
Steve Hale, who had shared the new ball with Danny King, bowled a fine spell of seam bowling, taking one for 24 from 12 overs.
Sixteen-year-old Matt Street made his first-team bowling debut and claimed his first wicket, thanks to a well-judged catch by Hale.
With Shaun Gould taking the ninth wicket to fall, the Braintree bowlers were well supported in the field.
They restricted Stowmarket to only 110 for nine from their allotted 45 overs.
In reply, Braintree openers Neil Cox and Leach made a watchful start.
They had progressed the score to 24 in the 14th over when Leach was bowled by a delivery which kept low for 11.
Three overs later and Stowmarket grabbed a second wicket when Jamie Foyster dragged a wide delivery on to his stumps to leave the visitors on 27 for two.
Any thought of a possible Stowmarket victory was soon vanquished, however, as left handers Simon Jones and Cox suddenly made light work of the difficult scoring conditions.
The pair added 78 runs in only 16 overs before Jones sliced a wide full toss and was caught one handed at point for 36.
Stephens and Cox then took Braintree over the finishing line, with Cox again starting the season well with an undefeated half-century.
Braintree take on rivals Dunmow at Panfield Lane this weekend.
9:37am Thursday 8th May 2008
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