Promising signs despite defeat
Whilst Reed hosted two teams in a 20/20 double bill, they also sent over a second eleven to face Aston in a friendly fixture. Aston batted first and started slowly as Jack Childs and Joe Graves sent down good opening spells. Pippa Wisdom making her debut for the clubs adult sides came on first change replacing Graves coming down the hill. She immediately started with a good line and picked up the first wicket thanks to a nimble catch by Reed captain Marcus J.E. Baker behind the stumps. Mike Robertson, replacing Childs, also got into a nice rhythm and didn’t make it easy for the hosts with some fierce bounce and movement. Robertson would take 3 wickets for 23 before making way for the returning Childs and Graves. Wisdom took a second before Zak Conley came on and eventually struck twice. Tom Walsingham wrapped up the tail quickly with two wickets in his single over as Reed bowled out Aston for 162. After tea, Peter G. Baker and Tom Walsingham made a rapid start scoring freely. However, a sudden upset came when Baker (19) lost his balance mid way through a shot and was stumped as he stumbled. Mike Robetson (20),Walsingham (31) and M.J.E. Baker (32) tried regaining the initiative with some fantastic shots but each batsman fell prematurely and Reed finished all out for 116.