It was a warm and beautiful day at Reed headquarters as Woodcutters made their annual journey to play at The Green. Both sides had struggled to put out their strongest sides, none the less it was a fantastically enjoyable game.
Reed were inserted by the visitors and quickly got the scoreboard ticking over. Peter Baker and Bill Mansfield both put the bad balls away as they made a quick 46 run partnership. John Kershaw replaced Baker (20) who had been bowled by one that kept a bit low. He too plundered runs as the boundaries were came thick and fast. On 47 Bill Mansfield tried taking the aerial route once too many times and was caught as the first drinks were taken after 15 overs with the score on 91.

Things did not get better for Woodcutters as Rob Lankester strode to the crease. Playing with his now famous patience and skill he found scoring no trouble. A fine knock of 46 by John Kershaw finished when he was trapped LBW. Joe Graves coming in at 5 took the opportunity afforded to him to demonstrate his improved ability with the bat. He and Lankester put on 67 together in a tremendous partnership. Joe was caught for 20 just as the second drinks were taken, the score now 219 for 4 in the 30th.

Lankester just did not stop. He persisted in his stylish stroke making and brought up three figures with one of his 22 boundaries. He would finish the innings undefeated with 122 runs to his name, an incredible effort that took Reed to their final total of 283 for 5.

It didn’t take long for Reed to take the first wicket in the second innings. Matt Yates took a simple catch from the bowling of Neil Haslam who floated the ball nicely in his full 8 overs for just 24.

This early breakthrough brought about a fantastic fight back in the form of the 135 run partnership between Hepburn and Donovan. They got Woodcutters ahead of the run rate and things were looking bad for Reed as both went past 50.

Hosting captain Marcus J.E. Baker then noticed where the sun was placed at the pavilion end of the ground and decided to bring himself onto bowl his leg spin. If not for the occasional bad ball Baker bowling in tandem with Josh Conley started to slow the run rate. Baker (1-48) then made the crucial breakthrough catching Donovan (66) off his own bowling. Conley (2-51) then struck twice as Reed regained control. Having bowled out their overs Conley was replaced by Matt Yates and Baker was replaced by Lankester. Scoring a century was clearly not enough for the young man as he bowled 3 batsmen for just 1 run including Hepburn (82). A superb second spell from Yates was rewarded as Joe Graves took an outstanding diving catch having snuck himself in to gully without the skipper noticing for the final ball. Woodcutters 230 for 8. A Reed win by 53 runs.

Report by MJE Baker.