Reed decided to
bat first against Old Owens after winning the toss. Reed made steady
progress with most people chipping in. Baz Curtis hit 30 and was out
with the score on 51-2. The backbone of the innings was Peter Morley.
He made a patient 41 before trying to accelerate the scoring rate and
getting bowled. Reed then lost Jason Nolan run out and were 177-5 and
looked a long way from getting full batting points, but Simon Roberts
and Simon Jackson put on 40 for the 6th wicket. Jackson was caught
for 17 and Roberts was bowled for 36. He hit 5 4s in his 36. Martin
Seale and Ben Bowles then put on 39 for the 8th wicket to see Reed to
over 200. They didn’t hit a boundary, but ran 4 3s which was a good
effort given the hot weather. Bowles was left 13 not out and Seale 21
not out.
In reply Old Owens got off to a bad start when Peter Tidey bowled
Tanner for just 10. Old Owens then reached 51-1 without any further
alarms when John Pemberton struck to remove Martin for 5. Then Martin
Seale and Tidey ripped through Old Owens batting. Old Owens went from
51-1 to 56-7 in 5 overs. Tidey picked up a further 2 wickets and
Seale, 3 in amazing spell. It was never a 56-7 wicket and then Dowty
and Bulsara put on 101 for the 8th wicket and Reed never really
looked like getting them out. Even the introduction of spinner Jason
Nolan couldn’t get Reed a wicket and in the end the game ended as a
draw.
