Reed IIs look in good shape

Bentley Heath 100 all-out Reed IIs 101-2 Reed won by eight wickets

REED Cricket Club IIs look to be in good shape ahead of the new season after they dispatched Bentley Heath by eight wickets in a friendly on Saturday.

Heath started at the crease first but it wasn’t long before Reed’s Lewis Fitzgerald (5.3-1-26-3) got into his stride and he made the breakthrough with only the fourth ball of the match after a fine catch from wicketkeeper Marcus J.E. Baker.

Fitzgerald then took his second wicket with a fine delivery that decimated the stumps in his next over before going on to get a third later in the innings.

Under-15 bowler Tom Walshingham also impressed with figures of (7-4-0-5).

First change bowlers Rupert Martin (6-0-14-0) and Chris Peckett (6-1-22-2) continued in the same form with Peckett claiming two wickets.

Spinner Matt Bowles (5-0-7-3) looked dangerous and was rewarded with three further wickets before Pete Tidey produced a fantastic catch off his own delivery.

A run-out orchestrated by Walshingham and Fitzgerald took care of the final wicket as Heath were all out for just 100 runs.

In reply, Aiden Swain and Will Heslam (42) made a strong start with a stand of 52 in 11 overs before Swain was caught lbw for 17.

Bowles and Richard Johnson finished off the chase with just under 20 overs to spare.