President’s Day 2002 Report

Last years Champions opened up against one of this years favourites in the group of death. Chris and Simon Jackson batted first against Michael Berks nad Richard Johnson. First team skipper Simon managed to get himself run out without facing a ball and when Berksie knocked Chris’s middle stump out of the ground, the Champions were in control. Some good running as usual meant the Brother’s set a decent total of 140 at the end of their 4 overs.

Berks and Johnson did well and despite losing a wicket they were able to block the last ball and set the early pace in the tournament.

Next the Jackson’s played Jim Allsopp and Marcus Martin knowing they had to win to put pressure on the Champions. They set the young dynamic duo a massive 153 to win, despite Simon being run out again with out facing a ball. With Jim’s big hitting and Marcus’s stroke play they weren’t over come. Jim smashed the ball to all parts and a surprise looked on the cards, but the Brother’s got wickets at vital times to keep the youngsters on the back foot, but then came the moment of the day. Marcus decided he had to follow Jim’s lead and smashed Simon for a huge six over mid wicket. It was not enough and they ended up 15 runs short. Jim did hit the highest six every seen at Reed. Chris was under it for a long, long time!

Berksie and Johners could smell a semi final berth and again despite some big hitting from Jim and Marcus the Champions were through to a second consecutive semi final.

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James and John Heslam were looking to reach another final and revenge last years defeat. John having passed a fitness test was looking to add to his collection of Reed trophies. They looked to be in a strong group and had to play the other Father and Son partnership, the Roberston’s.

The Robertsons were put in and went on to score a competitive total of 139. Michael contributed most of these runs hitting several boundaries including a six of Heslam senior although this had to go down as a chance for Costen on the cow corner boundary! In reply the Heslam’s got off to the worst possible start with James getting out first ball attemptong to pull a short ball that kept lowish. However, gradually the Heslam’s recovered their innings with Heslam senior punishing young Michael with some lusty blows. Needing 11 off the last over the Heslams scrapped the victoryon the 2nd last ball.

The Heslam’s then faced Graham and 15 year old James Wilson to reach the semi finals. The Heslam’s batted first and found runs hard to come by due to some accurate bowling. They staggered to 131 leaving the Wilson’s with a great opportunity of a big upset. However, despite not losing any wickets the Wilson’s too found it hard to score freely and finished short on 126. The final group game wasn’t to affect qualification to the semis but was nevertheless fought to the end and the Robertsons took the honours winning in the end comfortably.

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This group looked a tight group from the start. Peter Baker took advantage and picked two younger members, Jamie Kingshott and Matt Bowles to partner him in his to matches. Matt and Peter first took on the boys from Bunt, Peter and Bobby Costen. The Brother’s look a good partnership and set Peter and Matt a good 142 to chase. They made a great effort, but fell 13 runs short.

Owen was meant to be partnered by his brother, Rob, but due to driving problems, this time his car, Rob couldn’t make it. What could he do? Help was at hand. His younger sister, Ruth offered to play and did a great job skippering the partnership in their two games. They first took on the Costen’s. Peter and Bobby hit 137. Ruth unlucky not to get a wicket when Owen had wandered out of position and the bal went over his head. The Dunn’s batted very well, but could only manage 122. The Costen’s were through to the semi finals at their first attempt

Peter then partnered Jamie and had an easy win over the Dunn’s. Jamie was struck by a fierce drive from Peter, but continued through the pain to see the match out and then play in his last Group D game too.

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Baz Curtis and Will Clarke looked firm favourites to go through from this group, but nothing is certain in this competition. They first took on Stuart Smith and the crafty spin of Gogsy. The experienced players but the yougsters in to bat and it looked good for Baz and Will. Baz didn’t concede a boundary and Will bowled Smith with his first delivery. Smith had enough and hit Will for 10 off his last 2 balls, but still they only had 131. Curtis hit Gogs no ball for six and the next for four and so had 12 from 2 balls. The Gogs found what the wicket was for and got one to turn a mile and bowled Baz. Still in control going into the last over with only 2 needed, Baz hit Smith into the deep only to be caught by Simon Jackson. Will couldn’t muster the six required to tie and so Smith and Gogs won by 4 runs.

Smith and Gogs then beat Matt Bowles and Jamie Kingshott to put them in to a semi final against the Costen’s.

Matt and Jamie put up a hard fight in their last game against Will and Baz. Only losing one run out wicket and posting 112. The First teamers struggled against the leg spin of Matt and Jamie keeping it tight at the other end. Jamie got Baz to miss time one and took a great caught and bowled and then with only 2 ball left he got Baz again, this time stumped. It was left to Will to keep his nerve and make sure a wicket didn’t fall. He did the job.

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The Costen’s were favourites for the first semi final, but again Smith and Gogs came through. Chasing a very good 139. This due to Smith now bowling much straighter and Gogs bowling better in every match. Smith and Gogs were always on target, then in the final over chaos. A single, the stumps went down, was it out? Andrew ‘Dickie Bird’ Emms said no. Then it happened again, again not out. With two ball left Smith just need to block them out. the field came in, but he saw the job through and Smith was into his second final.

The Heslam’s batted first in the second semi final. Johnson’s previously successful slow left arm tweakers came in for some punishment from James. This meant despite a economical spell by Berks a good total of 139 was amassed despite Heslam Snr playing the last 3 balls back down the wicket confident the score of 139 was enough. Johnson and Berks still fancied their chances though bearing in mind how easily Johnson had dealt with the spin of Heslam senior in last years final. However, with the game evenly poised James took a crucial wicket leaving 19 required to win off the last over to be bowled by seior pro John. Despite a few boundaries and six being needed off the last ball the Heslam’s hung on to move into the final after another closely fought game. Again the Champions couldn’t retain the trophy.

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