Outlaws

Opening for the hosts were Dom McOmish and Jack Tidey. McOmish smashed two balls through the off side for four in the first over which was followed by Tidey blasting another two for four in the second over before being caught softly at point. However, the momentum stayed with Reed with Kallum Ward coming in at three, who wasted no time in making his intentions clear.

His aggressive innings was well complemented with McOmish’s more traditional stroke play. Their partnership of 67 came to an end with the loss of McOmish. Sean Tidey came in at 5 and took pressure off of Ward by smashing his first three balls for four.

Ward, who had by now reached a superb 50, was now taking a back seat as the younger Tidey displayed his dominance of the bowling. Ward eventually fell in the first over after drinks for 66 and despite the team total being an impressive 167 for 5, M.J.E. Baker knew that it was important for his side to bat their full 40 overs and not collapse.

So Baker stuck with Tidey as he reached his 50 and the total passed 200. Baker was too getting into his stride with some lusty blows before being adjudged (and we all know what that means) LBW for 17. Tidey’s knock also finished in the same over for a blistering 72 that included 13 fours but only the 1 six. Peter Baker and Chris West (7) kept the innings going until the final wicket fell in the last over with the score on 275, P.G. Baker rolled back the years finishing un-beaten having hooked and pulled his way to 43.

Reeds confidence soon took a blow as Outlaws openers S. Brennan and Saffrey started their own assault. They raced to 87 in only 11 overs when the bowling changes proved their un-doing. M.J.E. Baker brought himself into the attack and struck in his first over, his leg spin finding the inside edge of the left-handed Saffrey who played on for 16.

The following over Brennan, who had made 54, rashly darted down the track to Josh Conley and was bowled. Conley bowled his full eight overs and returned figures of 8-2-28-3, all his victims bowled on accounted of his superb line. Kallum Ward came into the attack to make sure Reed stayed on top and took a wicket in his three overs.

With Rob Willoughby replacing Ward and Sean Tidey replacing Conley coming up the hill Reed tried to use spin to extract some more wickets. But the partnership of R. Sharmar and R. Beck started to score quickly again as they took the Outlaws total past 200. The potentially fatal partnership came to a st unning end when M.J.E. Baker took a diving left handed catch at mid-wicket to remove Beck (19) off of Tidey. This was followed with Joe Graves removing Sharmar (53) the next over also caught by Baker at point. Reeds superior out-fielding was also displayed by Kallum Ward who took a tough catch out on the deep mid-wicket boundary.

Outlaws final wicket fell in the 38th over leaving Reed victors by 37 runs. Dominic McOmish (2-15) had taken two wickets in the final few overs having replaced Tidey (2-34) whilst Chris West did well to get to the ball with the gloves in only his fourth game in that role.