Reed continued their good league form and too full advantage of
the humid conditions. The visitors rolled back the years with Richard
Robertson and Peter Tidey opening the Reed attack. Both got the ball
to swing, but it was Tidey who got the early wickets. He removed the
first 3 Old Owens batsmen and they only had 33 on the board. A fine
piece of fielding by Peter Costen with a precision throw into the
wicket keepers gloves made it 33-4. Richard Robertson who, up until
then had bowled superbly with out luck then picked up the next 3
wickets. Reed’s fielders supported the two bowlers well and Old Owens
were finding the going tough and runs hard to come by. It was just a
question of who would get 5 wickets. In the end it was Tidey. He
bowled Larkins for a duck and Owens were all out for 75 in a 48
overs. Robertson finished with figures of 4-43 in 24 overs and Tidey
5-24 in 24 overs.
It was important Reed didn’t lose an early wicket and give some
momentum back to the home side. Baz Curtis and Paul Watts made sure
that didn’t happen. They put on a solid 41 before Curtis was caught
of 23. Trevor Saunders came in a smashed a quick 20 to put the game
well beyond Old Owens. Paul Watts with an unbeaten 16 and Simon
Roberts, 4 saw Reed home to an impressive 8 wicket win and 30
points.
