Braintree Cricket Club lose out at Worlington

Due to various reasons the first XI showed five changes to the one that secured a good win the previous week.

Stand-in captain Chris Leech lost the toss and the home team not surprisingly chose to bat.

Almost from the outset Braintree with a mainly spin attack were up against it as the batsmen took advantage of the short boundaries.

In the scheme of things, the Dolphins were pleased to get the Ford brothers, who had both scored centuries the previous week, relatively cheaply.

However, Ben Atkinson (93) and Jimmy Watson (156 not out) helped Worlington amass a total of 364 for six off their allotted 50 others.

In reply the Dolphins were soon in trouble as Leech and Chris Hinks were both bowled cheaply.

Matt Renvoize (18) and Barry Stephens (ten) showed some resistance, but the writing was on the wall when they lost their wickets.

Rory Ainsley showed the rest how it could be done by scoring a quick fire 40, an innings that contained nine boundaries.

However, nobody else (apart from Extras) made double figures and Braintree were bowled out for 122.

The pick of the Worlington bowlers was Carl Manels with 4-14, off his ten overs.

The ironic thing is that for some reason he though the game was at Panfield Lane only realising his error when he pulled up in the car park at Braintree and found none of his team-mates were there.

Braintree's second XI lost out to a very strong Dunmow side.

The opposition batted first and they too had fun in the sun accumulating 303 for six.

Braintree put together a respectable 203 for eight which on any other day would have been good enough for victory.

Keith Merrell top scored with 67, whilst Ian Johnson (19), Andy Sherry (18), Jeremy Hollingsworth (27), Glen Newham (10), Lee Fulgrabbe (24), Joel Ainsley (13) and Joe Osbourne (13) all got starts but were unable to push on just that little bit more.

Braintree's first XI host Woolpit this weekend, while the seconds are at Kelvedon.