BRAINTREE .....................................229-5

EIGHT ASH GREEN ..............156 all out

(Jaygate Homes Two Counties Division Two)

(Braintree won by 73 runs)

A superb all round performance by Andy Cook on Saturday ensured Braintree a comfortable 73 run victory at Eight Ash Green, despite having left his cricket boots at home!

After electing to bat, Braintree lost the early wicket of skipper Graham Gooday off the first delivery of the second over.

Andy Cook and Dave Denny then both continued their good form with the bat as they added 37 runs in 24 overs to set Braintree up for a score in excess of 260.

However, both batsman departed within the space of four runs.

Denny was bowled by Stuart Hammond for 70 (10 fours and one six) and then Cook for the same score (10 fours) when he was caught at long off from the bowling of Hammond.

The home side managed to peg back Braintree to a final total of 229 for five with Mel Fulgrabbe finishing undefeated on 35 while Nigel Sheldrake returned to some form with 30.

In reply, Eight Ash Green lost the early wicket of Stuart Hammond when he was bowled by Andy Cook in the fourth over.

Thereafter, the home side never really recovered with the only resistance coming from former Old Ipswichians opener, Eddie Porter, who made 47 and Keith Hammond (34).

On a dusty wicket, Braintree spinners Cook and Shaun Gould took nine wickets between them with Cook taking six for 80 from 22 overs and Shaun Gould three for 60 from 16 overs.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.