FIRST team cricketers at Dunmow are still looking for their first win of the season after going down by three wickets to their bitter rivals Braintree.

Two Counties Cricket League

Division Two

Dunmow (237 for 8), lost to Braintree (241 for 7) by three wickets

FIRST team cricketers at Dunmow are still looking for their first win of the season after going down by three wickets to their bitter rivals Braintree.

The visitors won the toss and elected to field first, which looked liked a top decision when Dunmow opener Ollie Rooney was bowled by Ben Golds for a duck in the first over.

However, a partnership between Nick Coupe and Luke Swanston took the attack straight back to Braintree as they amassed 66 for the second wicket inside 11 overs.

Unfortunately for the hosts, neither pushed on for a big score as they were dismissed in quick succession, Coupe for 35 and Swanston for 37 – Braintree then picked up a further wicket and the game swung back in their favour.

At 82-4 the match was finely balanced and another good partnership between skipper Paul Reid and Alex Wyganowski put on 93 for the fifth wicket but again Braintree hit back as both went quickly for 51 and 45 respectively.

Some late runs were added by James Reid (26no) and Stephen Hamlin (14) as Dunmow reached 237-8 off their 45 overs. Golds was the pick of the Braintree bowlers with 2-31 from eight overs.

In the field the hosts got off to a great start, Josh Down trapped Dave Denny LBW for four to leave Braintree 9 for 1 – but the early wicket did not prevent Simon Jones from playing his natural attacking game as he crashed the ball to all parts.

The number three forced an early bowling change as Dunmow tried to stem the flow of runs but Jones was relentless as he continued to play freely on his way to a match-winning 84.

Dunmow fought back just as Braintree had done earlier, Down took two wickets in two balls and Reid bowled Jamie Foyster first ball leaving the score on 68-4.

Rory Ainsley joined Jones and was equally aggressive as he scored 22 in 25 balls before being caught and bowled by Reid. Danger man Jones remained though and he and Will Jackson put together a partnership of 50 to steady the innings.

Reid continued to plug away and eventually picked up Jones as he drove the ball straight to Down after scoring his runs from only 76 balls.

Despite Dunmow sensing victory, sensible batting saw Braintree home in the 44th over, Jackson hitting the winning runs and finishing 63 not out.

Reid (3-70) and Down (4-60) were the pick of the Dunmow bowlers.

Afterwards Reid said his team could take “a lot of positives” from the close encounter ahead of this Saturday’s fixture against Ipswich and East Suffolk.