This was a fantastic game to finish the season for Reed 4s at Freman with all 11 players coming to the party and contributing.
Skipper Rob Willoughby won the toss and decided to bat in the heat of the early afternoon. This turned out to be a good move as it was hard work for the visiting Preston 4th XI, in the sun with openers Richard Robertson and young Rhodri Hughes making the most of the lightning fast outfield. The opening partnership was 141 before Robertson fell stumped on 60. Rhodri fell bowled soon after but did bring up his maiden adult 50, scoring 55. Rhodri’s batting has really come on this season and can now be considered a solid opening bat.
Batsmen 3 and 4 were the inform Alan Ward and Willoughby respectively. These two combined lusty boundaries with quickly taken singles as they continued to work the change bowlers. Ward was caught for 36 but Willoughby continued with Freddy Stuart, who scored a very good 16. Willoughby quickly got his first half century of the season as Reed were scoring well and an early declaration was on the cards. This came after 43 overs with Willoughby left 86 not out and Chris West 1 not out.
To their credit the Preston openers did give the chase a good go with Wright especially taking the attack to the bowlers scoring 126. Reed opened with Joe graves (6-0-42-0), who has bowled well all season and Graham Stuart (6-0-41-0). Both created chances but the luck was with the batsmen for now. Change bowlers Ian Roberts (8-2-42-0) and Ward immediately brought the run rate back and took the run rate out of the equation.
Now Reed needed wickets to win the final game of the season. Ward got an important wicket of one of the openers finishing with 9-2-20-1. Sam Rice (5-1-15-0) then came on and turned the ball a mile and was unfortunate not to take a wicket. Willoughby was bowling the other end with Freddy coming on for Rice. Freddy (2-0-19-1) took the crucial wicket of Wright. Then Steven Hughes came on, having not told his skipper that he could bowl until the final game of the season. Steve and Willoughby finished the game, with Steve taking 2-0-2-2 and Willoughby wrapping t hings up with 8-0-29-4.
This year the 4th XI have gone through a huge transition after struggling in the early part of the season and finishing 5th in the league just outside of the promotion places. Thanks must go to Richard Robertson, Peter Baker, Ian Roberts, Alan Ward, and Chris West for their help and important performances. Also pleasing was the improvement in Rhodri Hughes, Joe Graves, Freddy Stuart, Sam Rice, and Jack Childs. There is now a good solid core to the team which bodes well for future seasons and the club as a whole.
