BRAINTREE slumped to defeat in their crucial game against Marshall Hatchick Two Counties division two table-toppers Copford.

Captain Will Jackson elected to bowl first in wet, overcast conditions.

Regular opening bowlers Lachlan Ford and Darren Garner got Braintree off to a good start, keeping the runs down but failing to make a breakthrough.

Ian Catley and Tom Sinclair both looked settled at the crease, with the latter enjoying a fine run of form with the bat, and begun to impose himself on the game.

With the score on 45, Ford had Catley caught behind for a well-made 21.

Soon after, spinner Barry Stephens came into the attack to replace Garner and, after toiling away, he soon picked up a wicket, having James Bell caught at slip for 17.

Sinclair, who continued to foil the Braintree bowlers, moved serenely to 50, having been dropped on 20 off the bowling of Ford.

Copford overseas player Ben Caplikas joined Sinclair and the pair shared a fruitful partnership, with both displaying an array of shots.

Chairman Steve Hale was brought into the attack and although unable to make a breakthrough, he bowled a fine spell of controlled swing bowling.

Sinclair had now moved on to his first 100 for Copford.

However, he had lived a charmed life at the crease, with a number of catches falling just short.

Stephens, working well in tandem with Ford, then picked up two quick wickets, dismissing Caplikas and centurion Sinclair to leave Copford 198 for four.

Just eight more runs were added before Andy Read again fell to the bowling of Stephens.

Copford finished on 215 for five from their 45.

Stephens was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets for 80 runs from his allotted 15 overs.

Looking to continue his imperious form, Ford opened the batting for Braintree and he and Dean Bass got their side off to a solid start, with Ford finding the boundary with ease off the bowling of Russell Measor.

After Braintree had moved to 41, Bass was trapped lbw by Kieran Saville and Ford soon followed for 34, to leave Braintree 61 for two.

This soon became 61 for three, with Chris Leech falling for five.

Warren Celiz and Rory Ainsley shared a 45-run partnership, with Celiz finding the boundary with ease, and the pair looked well set to take Braintree home.

However, disaster struck with the score on 106 when a mix-up meant Celiz was run-out.

With Daniel Chalk now at the crease, Ainsley continued to impress with the bat, with some huge hitting and measured stroke play.

The pair carried Braintree to 168, before Chalk was out caught from the bowling of Ben Rawson.

Jackson, on a horrible run of form, then followed two balls later to the bowling of Saville for his third consecutive duck.

After making a fine half-century, Ainsely was dismissed for 62, looking to score quickly with the run-rate increasing.

Wickets then fell at regular intervals to leave Braintree all out on 193.

Saville was the pick of the bowlers with four for 53 from his 15-over spell.