The latest match for the U13s was a lesson in concentration……
Having lost the toss and being put in the field, the normally controlled bowling let Reed down. With both opening bowlers taking wickets (D Vincent 3 overs, 0 maidens, 2 wickets, 17 runs, E Cook 3-0-3-24), at the expense of runs. With Hertford at 5 for 42, it looked like Reed were on a roll. First change bowlers slowed the run rate (T Green 3-0-0-10, C Ricketts 2-0-0-6), before the normally reliable pool of bowlers were unusually wayward – delivering excellent length at the expense of direction…. and Hertford accumulated runs without losing any wickets until the very last over, where C Ricketts returned to take 3 wickets, with 2 stumpings form D Vincent. Hertford finished with a score of 112 for 8 – a tough, but achievable, target for an inexperienced Reed team….
The Reed openers struggled with the Hertford bowling from the off…. with runs proving difficult to come by, and the fading light making batting tricky….. With wickets falling at regular intervals, the match looked beyond the colts…. But after the opening bowlers had finished their spells, The second tier bowlers helped keep the scoreboard ticking over. T Green was on the verge of providing the miracle innings Reed needed, before running himself out for 21 with Reed requiring 11 runs for victory.
With M Barons and S Johnson at the crease, the atmosphere could be cut with a knife… With the two youngsters falling agonisingly short of the required runs.
Progress is being made… and the 1st win of the season cant be very far away….
Match report submitted by Lee Vincent.
