Reed Seconds followed up their one-sided victory against Wheathampstead last week with another dominant display, this time against Ickleford. Playing away, Reed were pleasantly surprised to be asked to bowl first on a pitch with noticeable water damage from Fridays daylong downpour.
After some attacking shots Reed picked up their first wicket thanks to a catch at point by Jack Caine from the bowling of Tom Walsingham. Walsingham (7-1-22-1) would continue to put down the ball at pace and managed to beat the bat on several occasions putting real pressure on the in coming batsmen. Peter Tidey at the other end meanwhile was producing all kinds of variable bounce and ended up taking 3 superb wickets for 20.
With this early pressure from the openers and Reeds usual high standards in the field Ickleford were in real trouble. They found no let up from the change bowlers as Karl Ward (12-5-12-3), Jack Caine (1.2-0-5-1) and Ian Osbourne (5-0-10-2) all chipped in.
Reed were in a solid position at the start of the second innings with a drying pitch and a paltry 82 to chase down. It was still hard going however, as Reed captain Phil Frenay and Richard Johnson got things going. Ickleford had little other option but to attack and applied pressure well. They managed to pick themselves up four wickets, as Reed feared an embarrassing collapse. However after Johnson’s 21 and 12 from Osbourne young Rob Lankester (39*) carried the burden of getting his side over the line showing supreme composure throughout. He finished things in style with a ramp shot to make the winning runs.
Report by MJEB.
