After a much-delayed start top the season for the U15s, Reed travelled to Ickleford for a cup match. Ickleford won the toss and elected to Bat.
The Reed opening bowlers of Jamie Coote and Callum Ricketts started superbly, limiting Ickleford to just 7 runs from the first 4 overs. An intelligent throw from Daniel Vincent at long-on to the keeper led to a run-out on the last ball of the 4th over.
The next bowling pairing of Daniel Vincent and Lily Hall kept up the pressure, with both taking wickets in their first overs; and Daniel adding another in his second over. A recurrence of a back injury meant Daniel had to stop bowling with 2 wickets for 3 runs (2-1-2-3).
After 7 overs, Ickleford has struggled to 16 runs, having lost 4 wickets and Reed were strongly on top.
Ickleford needed to up the pressure and went on the attack – Lily took the brunt in her 2nd over, finishing on 2-0-1-19
Lewis Karim put the pressure back on with a tidy opening over going for just 2 runs. Eddie Cooke kept the pressure on with his 1st over, taking a wicket (caught Lewis)
After 10 overs, Ickleford were 38 for 5.
In an innings that can only be described as having two halves, Ickleford (and in particular their No.5 batsman Pereth) went on the attack against Reed’s supporting bowlers. With Pereth retiring on 40 runs, the 6th wicket stand reached 58 runs. Jamie Coote striking twice in the 16th over (his 3rd) ending on 3-0-2-8. Callum put the brakes on further in the 17th over finishing with figures of 3-2-1-2. Ickleford eventually achieved 114 for 8 from their 20 overs.
Reed started their innings slowly, with Jamie and Callum knowing that if they could see off the opening bowlers, there was depth in the batting line up.
Defending the good balls, and sending the bad balls to the boundary, Reed were on 23 without loss after 5 overs when disaster struck in more ways and one.
Firstly Callum Ricketts was bowled for 9 runs, then Jamie suffered a serious knee injury attacking a balls going down leg.
With Jamie prone on the wicket, and an ambulance called the match was abandoned with Reed on 24 for 1 from 5.2 overs.
Post-Match it was discovered that Callum had suffered a broken toe after being struck on the foot, so Reed’s first match of the season resulted in 3 long-term injuries to senior players.
With Jamie out for an unknown period, Callum missing ~4 weeks and Daniel unable to bowl for an indeterminate length of time, Reed need to gather themselves for the next few matches and play as a team to forge results…. An opportunity for some to grab the bull by the horns and shine.
Match Report submitted by Lee Vincent.
