Sunday Friendly Archives - Reed Cricket Club

Fives out for the count after team effort

Fixture secretary Peter Wholley’s efforts to arrange a opposition for Reeds Sunday friendly XI led to Fives traveling up to the Green. Reed batting first, after the early loss of opener Paul Garrott, found runs not as forthcoming as usual. Richie Barlow and Matt Bowles worked hard to pick the right deliveries from which to score off. With things looking better for Reed and a half-century partnership registered both Bowles (20) and Barlow (34) suddenly found themselves back in the sheds, falling in quick succession. Incoming batsman Jack Caine and Reed captain Marcus J.E. Baker decided to try and take back the initiative with some quick running and big hitting. Baker was beginning to hit his stride with some powerful strokes but fell caught on the long-off boundary, his cameo producing 29. Caine continued whilst Reeds incoming batsman found run scoring hard to come by with overs gradually running out. Looking to steer Reed to a defendable target Caine was also caught, top scoring in the Reed innings with 35. The final few overs saw the successful partnership of Marcus Martin (21*) and Peter Baker (21*), both normally top order batsmen, scoring in aggressive fashion to reach Reeds final score of 182 for 8. In the second innings M.J.E. Baker decided to set very attacking fields in an attempt to snare early wickets. Joe Graves bowling seam coming down the hill used his tall frame to trouble the opposition batsman. Meanwhile Sam Rice bowling his chinamans once again proved an effective source of trouble for openers. Graves took two wickets in his six overs for just 20 whilst Rice bowled his full quota of eight. He certainly deserved more than just his single wicket but [...]

A Blue and Gold day as Reed hold their nerve

The 2015 season started in epic fashion for the Sunday friendly XI with a hard fought victory for the hosts over annual rivals Woodcutters. The pleasant weather had drawn a big crowd with several club members bringing their young families to watch. Hopefully this tense tussle will inspire those youngsters to take up the sport. The visiting captain had won the toss and inserted Reed. Veteran batsman Peter Baker and Rob Willoughby started proceedings with a promising opening stand. However, the introduction of the late arriving Bernedes proved devastating. Three cheap wickets fell leaving Reed struggling at 40 for 3. Baker was now batting with young Ben Mansfield. Together they stopped the collapse as Baker proved the perfect mentor and Mansfield a more than able partner. Despite only scoring 4, Mansfield had stood up to some difficult bowling at a pressured period of play. However, the run out of Mansfield followed soon after by the loss of Baker for 33 meant Reed were back on un-even ground. Closing in on drinks Reed had still only made it to 60 with 5 wickets lost. For Marcus J.E. Baker it required a captain’s knock to get Reed to somewhere near a defendable total. To help him in this enterprise was Tom Walsingham, who was up to the challenge. Although boundaries were not easy to come by, singles were taken in abundance. Adding 66 M.J.E. Baker then fell to a smart catch for 41 trying to hit out. Walsingham (39*) held firm and took Reed to a final total of 166 for 8. Lloyd Bowman and Ed Kershaw had both added useful runs but ultimately sacrificed their wickets for the cause. The winters are always a torture waiting [...]