Headstone St. Georges won the toss and decided to bat first on a
slow wicket. Reed opening attack of Simon Roberts and Duncan Price
made the visitors fight for every run. They had reached just 43-1
from 23 overs. Roberts had removed White for 8. Price finally got his
reward and this made Headstone St. Georges 42-2. Price had figures of
1-26 from 14 overs, while Roberts had 1-20 from 12 overs. Neil Haslam
and Phil Divers were also run misers when they bowled. Backed up by
some good ground fielding the batsmen were finding it hard to score
at a decent rate. Only Fowler had an answers with a patient 74.
Divers took 3-53 from 14 overs while Mark Peart came on at the death
to bowl 6 overs 2 for 18. Reed bowled 57 overs at the visitors and
they posted a very modest 155-8.
Reed’s batsmen decided the only way to bat on the slow wicket was
to be aggressive. Baz Curtis took a liking to Fine’s fist 4 overs
smashing him for 33. Although he was unfortunate to have the Reed
opener dropped off an absolute sitter before he really got going.
Curtis took full advantage reaching his 50 in just 9 overs and went
on to make 74. He hit 12, 4s and 1, 6. When Curtis went with the
score on 82 in just the 14th over the run rate slowed, but Stuart
Smith and Graham Hazard became more positive and soon the runs were
flowing again. Smith hit his highest first team score of 32 and
Hazard smashed a typically aggressive 38. It was a shame they both
got out with victory in site. It was left to the ever dependable Ian
Roberts and Mark Peart to see Reed home to an easy 6 wicket
victory.
