Botany Bay won the toss and decided to bat first on what looked a
good batting track. Reed’s opening bowlers off Peter Tidey and Peter
Costen has the Bay openers in trouble early on. They exploited the
swing that they got and were unlucky when they both had catches put
down. This meant Botany Bay had 42 on the board before Tidey made the
break through. He conceded only 25 runs in his 9 overs. Costen
conceded 36 and picked up the vital wicket of Hayes with just another
20 runs added. Reed looked like they were holding Botany Bay and at
78-3 the game was evenly poised. Botany Bay’s skipper Duncan
Wilkinson had other ideas. he hit a quick 60 and helped to put on 110
for the 4th wicket. With 6 overs to go and 6 wickets in hand the Bay
had license to hit out. Ian Roberts picked up 3 wickets during the
push, but Botany Bay posted an impressive 220-7.
Reed made one of their better starts of the season putting on 77
before Curtis holed out to mid on for 40. Despite a good start Reed
were always behind the clock. Reed slumped from 77-0 to, 94-5. The
last of these wickets was Mark Peart who had made a solid 38 before
being run out. Richard Robertson was the only other batsman to make
double figures. He reached 18 before being the 8th man dismissed with
the score on 121. Reed managed just 8 more runs before the overs ran
out. Finishing on 129 for 9 and a 91 run defeat.
