With one ear to the radio Reeds Sunday Second XI travelled the short journey to neighbours Cockenhach whilst listening to the incredible last day of the exciting first test of the home Ashes series. Reeds fixture would also prove to be an exciting one as they played rather than the usual 40 over a-side game a 20/20.
The hosts won the toss and elected to bat. This was fine with Reed skipper Marcus J.E. Baker as it allowed Cockenhach, who regularly play 20/20, to set the tempo of the game. Under 13 Ed Kershaw opened for Reed and delivered some good deliveries but unfortunately suffered from Dev (13) and Hughs (20) big hitting. Josh Caldicott-Stevens stood up for his opening partner by removing both, one caught and the other bowled. The under 15 playing his first adult game sent down 4 overs of superb lined bowling, taking 2 for only 14. Wickets were also taken by Zak (1-29) and Josh (1-16) Conley as well as Rob Lankaster (1-23). Reed had done well to limit the amount of boundaries during the middle overs and the final total of 147 for 5 seemed beatable.
M.J.E. Baker (4) started the Reed reply poorly. Over confidence from his last two innings meant he did not last past the third ball. However, his absence from the crease came with the benefit of allowing Rob Lankaster to start a remarkable innings. Lankaster played the perfect 20/20 knock, finding the boundary regularly with pulls and drives. More importantly though was his running between the wickets. He put pressure on the opposition by turning ones into two and creating singles from nowhere. In this enterprise he was well supported by Lloyd Bowman (22) as they combined to add 74 in only 8 overs. A sharp catch suddenly saw Lankaster removed for 60 and with wickets falling and the pressure mounting in the closing overs Reed could have let the win slip away. But a crucial knock from Matt Giblin (12) meant that in the final over Reed only needed 7 to win. The first ball was a no ball and was pulled for 4 by Zak Conley. A leg bye followed and with one needed Josh Caldicott- Stevens worked the ball to the third man boundary for the win.
A special thanks to Rosemary Collins for saving some of her sublime teas from the 1st XI game, they were much appreciated.
