Reed 2nd XI continued their good start to the season with a second win on the bounce. Reed were put into bat which was a surprise as the wicket looked flat and well prepared. Perhaps the home skipper knew something about his wicket that the visitors didn’t as he removed William Heslam for a duck. This brought Stuart Smith to the wicket to join Baz Curtis. Both showed their experience putting the bad ball away and moving the score along nicely. Smith had obviously been watching the 20/20 World Cup and played some extraordinary shots most of which found the boundary.
Curtis was not to be outdone and had moved to a comfortable 35 when somehow managed to edge the ball into his head. After a short delay and with the skipper on the way to A&E, Richard Johnson came and went first ball. The freak injury could have easily been a blessing to the home side, but Tom Fulk came to the crease and looked in fine form. He saw Smith reach 51 before being bowled with the score on 140-3, effectively 4.
Will Dobson joined Fulk and the pair built another solid partnership. Fulk raced to 50 and looked set for a ton before he was caught for 74. He hit 13x 4s and a six. The rest of the batsman all chipped in. Dobson went for 21, Phil Freney was not out on 18, along with a nice cameo from inform Sean Tidey. With Reed’s influential captain still away from the ground stand in skipper Jason Archer made the brave decision of declaring on 243-6.
Reed knew the home side had some good batsmen and some early wickets would be vital. Kallum Ward delivered yet again. In a very controlled opening spell he took 2-21 in 7 overs, both wickets bowled. A fine effort considering Reed had taken the old ball so they could open with spin at the other end. Will Dobson looking like his old self after a winter in warmer climbs kept the pressure on with a tight spell. The 3rd wicket came about from a direct hit from the lively Phil Freney leaving Meyer just short of his ground.
The pressure from Dobson started to have an effect as he quickly took 3 wickets. Nicholson had begun to look dangerous, but he was well caught by Heslam in the deep. He bowled Wells for a duck and keeper Tidey caught a skier from Tyler. At 93-7 the game looked over. Mitchell Cooper took over from Ward and continued in the same vain. Another good spell from the youngster. He also took 2 wickets. McCue was still trying to get the home side into the batting points with some clean hitting, but when he ran out his skipper the home side we 9 down. McCue got to his 50 before a fine diving catch in the deep from Stuart Smith completed the 123 run victory and another 30 points for Reed.
