After a week off from league fixtures, Reed IV’s welcomed Datchworth IV’s to Freman College.
After losing the toss, Peter Baker and John Kershaw opened up for Reed. J.Kershaw (4) was bowled by Terrett (9-1-36-3). Rhodri Hughes (0) was again unlucky, and when opener Peter Baker (28) was also dismissed, Datchworth appeared to have the advantage in the 15th over with Reed at 50-3.
This brought the returning Kieran Willoughby and the inform Zac Conley to the crease both of whom decided attack was the best form of defence as they both went about accelerating the run rate with some ease as both batsman brought up there 50’s.
Conley quickly went from his 50 to his maiden century in adult cricket, a superb innings from someone who is only 16 years of age. When Willoughby departed for an excellent 62, these two had already broken the 4th XI fourth wicket partnership by scoring 185 runs in the 26 overs they spent together at the crease taking Reed to 235-4.
Off the final ball of the innings Conley was regrettably run out for 118 as Bowman (11*) went searching for a run that wasn’t there and Reed finished on 266-5.
Following yet another fantastic tea from Tina Hughes, Datchworth’s openers wasted no time at all and counter attacked Reed’s opening bowlers. Ed Kershaw finally made the breakthrough as his father John Kershaw took a good catch at point. Soon after, Neil Haslam removed the fellow opener, but Reed still had plenty of work to do with Datchworth 62-2.
After drinks, Haslam got his second as Bowman took a good catch behind , with the score 100-3 at the 21st. Linggood and Rump accelerated the run rate to almost 10 an over before Rhodri Hughes found Rump’s (24) edge as Bowman again caught behind.
A moment of magic from Peter Baker at Midwicket whose majestic casual underarm throw removed Ciapp (0) before he had even faced a ball.
Linggood continued to counter attack Reed before, the returning Matt Yates (9-0-38-1) clean bowled the dangerous Linggood for 72. With the score at 209-6 with 11 overs to play the game looked in Datchworth’s favour before the Zac Conley (7-0-31-2) bowled Akers (30) and Newby (3) to leave Datchworth needing 11 off the final over to win with two wickets in hand.
Jack Childs bowled superbly well at the death restricting them to just 3 runs from it as Reed beat Datchworth by 7 runs.
A fantastic game of Cricket at Freman College, but the plaudits must go Zac Conley for his excellent 118 as Reed IV’s maintain there unbeaten start to the league season.
