Reed Sunday XI were defeated at the weekend by an extremely strong Shenley side. The visitors arrived with Sri Lankan test coach Vernon Senanayake and Kosala Kulasekkara,Upal Tharanga  both of whom played for Sri Lanka u-19s in the recent world cup in Bangladesh.

Upal was one of Sri Lanka’s star batsmen of the tournament scoring 117 against South Africa and a 29 ball 50 against India. The visitors won the toss and elected to bat and Senanayake and Upal both scored freely before the u-19 star was caught by Tom Fulk mistiming a pull off Allsopp for an exquisite 29, Archer then had Senanayake caught at slip for 17 and Reed were pleased to have the visitors at 65-2. Fulk took his second catch to help dismiss Rajsekkeran off the bowling of Collins for 23.

This brought Kulasekkra to the wicket, in what must have been one of the finest and quickest centuries ever seen at The Green, the young international star scored freely at his short time at the wicket. Neil Haslam taking some fearsome stick conceding 53 off just four overs including several magnificent sixes, the highlight a flat six over extra cover. Upon reaching his century Kulasekkra retired, and this allowed Reed to regain some semblance of control, but the vistors closed their innings on 272-6 off their 40 overs. Archer, Allsopp, veteran Collins and youngster Marcus Martin all bowling well in spite of the onslaught.

The chase for the huge winning total began on a low note with Bowcock run out for nought. Fulk the opener and Blisset steadied the ship before, Blisset was stumped for 21. Fulk (53) continued to score off the occasional bad ball before he was also run out, and with Martin (47no) also batting well, the pair took Reeds total on, and by the time Archer was stumped of the last ball of the innings, delivered by Dilip Tahil (aka Dan Ferreira from Eastenders) Reed’s reply had reached a reasonable 175-8. Senanayake taking 4 wickets for just one run from four overs of tight seam bowling