Reed won the toss and decided to bat on what looked like a good
batting track. The Reed openers of Baz Curtis and Paul Watts built a
good foundation having 47 on the board before Watts was bowled for 6.
Curtis was then joined by Mark Peart. They put on a further 48 before
a bad piece of calling meant Peart was run out for 11, with the score
on 95. That quickly became 100-3. Reed had to be careful not to let
Ickleford back into the game as the toiled in the field. James
Bradford came to the wicket and helped put on Reed first century
stand of the season. He made an good 36 before being well caught in
the deep as Reed pushed on for a declaration. Curtis was now in full
flow. He had already reached his first league ton of the campaign. He
had been dropped twice early on, but was taking full advantage of his
luck. He was finally dismissed for 150 in the 46th over. His 150
contained 19, 4s and 3, 6s. A brisk 17 by Simon Roberts pushed Reed
towards 250 and it was left to Simon Jackson and Trevor Saunders to
make sure Reed got there. Reed declared 2 overs early on 252 for
6.
Reed made two early break throughs having Ickleford 12-2. Both
wickets were taken by Simon Roberts. Ickleford then put on 68 for the
3rd wicket before the oldest swinger in town Ian Roberts broke the
stand. Chris Jackson got rid of Ickleford’s last chance of a win when
he bowled Hare for a quick 24. This was his second wicket after a
superb over the head catch by Tidey got rid of Schoman for 20. Ian
Roberts picked up a second victim, this left Ickleford 134-6 with
still 16 overs to go. Trevor Saunders made it 156-7 in the 40th over,
but Reed just couldn’t get another wicket and the match ended in a
draw with Ickleford 173-7.
