Keatley Cup Final

Reed 112-6

Cokenach 89

Reed won by 23 runs

REED retained the Keatley Cup last Thursday evening after overcoming Cokenach in an exciting match at Therfield.

On a greenish wicket Cokenach Captain Phil Seale won the toss and elected to bowl first. With Angus Lambert removing Smith early Cokenach had a bright start but Reed’s James Heslam and Chris Jackson soon restored the advantage with a 58-run partnership before Heslam was out for 36 going for a big shot caught by Cameron Taylor and bowled by James Keel.

At this stage Reed were 62-2 off eight overs and looking to post a big score but

controlled bowling and solid fielding from Cokenach managed to restrict them to 112-6

off their allotted 16 overs with Keel taking 3-26 off his four overs and Lambert and Clarke

picking up two and one wicket respectively.

In reply, Cokenach chose to use a pinch hitter in John Ford and their league opener

Matt Stevens. On this occasion, the pinch hitter ploy backfired and Ford was

out first ball of the innings and with Stevens out shortly afterwards, Cokenach were

struggling on 21-2 after four overs.

However, Peter Clarke and skipper Phil Seale began to repair the damage and at 57-2

off eight overs, Cokenach were right in the game. However, at 66-2, Seale was caught for 12

at point off the impressive Mitchell Cooper and the game began to change.

With Clarke departing for an impressive 27 off 23 balls almost straight after, the game dramatically swung back the way of Reed, and wickets began to fall steadily as Cooper tore through the lower order to finish with 5-13 from his four overs and Cokenach finished on 89 all out.

While Cokenach were naturally disappointed, they felt they had made enough of a statement that there is a club in the local area on the rise to rival Reed in the near future, particularly with Cokenach’s new pavilion and ground.