Reed 3rd Xl got off to a solid start to the season despite fielding a mixed side with 6 senior cricket debutants including two Under 15 players and two Under 13 rookies.
Put in by Preston Reed got off to a solid start with skipper Peter Baker scoring 29 before being dismissed with the score at 62. His opening partner Karl Ward, a late call up for his younger brother who withdrew with sickness, demonstrated fine early season form and set about the Preston bowling in vigorous style. Karl struck 19 x 4’s and 5 x 6’s as he raced to his first ever century and the first Reed Century of the new season before he retired on 116 not out with the overall Reed total approaching 200.
This left veteran John Heslam batting with his 13 year old son William in a match for the first time, and the pair put together useful runs before Heslam senior departed for 33. Will struck a composed 27 and with Alan Ward contributing an unbeaten 20 Reed eventually totalled 265 for 9 off their 40 0vers.
Facing a huge task to win Preston got off to a steady start as Reeds Under 15 bowling pairing of George Greaves and Alex West bowled very tidy opening spells. However, it was the even younger U13 pairing of Ollie Benham and Will Heslam who got amongst the early wickets as Preston slumped to 46-3. A revival followed as the Reed slow bowlers took something of a pasting at the hands of Prestons Saunders (70) and Wright (49). However, the introduction of Alan Ward into the attack broke the partnership and the pressure of the run chase finally told. Will Heslam 3-22 and Ollie Benham 2-17 returned to take another wicket each and Preston finally struggled to 189 – 7 off their 40 overs, leaving Reed victors by 76 runs.
