READING 4 V EVERSLEY

Reading won the toss again inserting Tring on a very dosile pitch, Shashank again bowled extremely well and took 2 wkts in his first 6 overs Jim also bowled well but kept the batting at bay Tring were 32 runs off 12 overs for 2 wkts their third wkt fell in the 22 over with some good spin bowling coming from matt taking the opener. Jamaal replacing Lemar bowled very well taking a 1 wkt in his first stint but let it slip in his 2nd spell it proved hard this week to get wkts but we stayed focused till the end Jim finishing with 5wkts of 19 overs 69 runs against his name.
We were set a target of 238 in 52 overs

Nat as usual set a good start for us with Lemar(12) was the first to fall miss timing a drive this bought Taz (5)into play but was unable to trouble the scorers to much this then bought Jim to the wkt with Nat (34)could not have a descent partnership together. Jason then entered and impressed again with a well worked 25 with some great drives and a good partnership of 58 with Jim. Then we had one of those old England collapses First Kevin then Fraz and Alvin and to round it of Jamaal first ball Fraz was the only one to score a run .With Matt who was coming in at no. 10 he was instructed to stay there which he did until the off spinner moved one the other way and a very good catch was taken Shashank came to the wkt it was agreed Jim would take most of the strike unfortunately Jim was left on his own with 3 balls to go on 66 not out.

What this report does not say so far is we went to Tring with 7 colts some not experiencing senior league cricket up to now. With Fraz who kept wkt for the first time (very well)
Jason proving he has what it takes to be a good cricketer
Matt bowling well and showing he can stay there
Jamaal bowling well as we know he can
Shashank tries his hart out every time and bowls well above his age
Lemar for the first time in his high standards failed with the bat
Taz who’s fielding improved
Reading v’s Eversley

This was always going to be a tough game Eversley winning the league last year but due to new teams have to do it all again.
We won the toss and chose to bowl after we had one of our premadonners decide late on Friday (Probably in tears) because he got dropped to the 2nd ‘s refuse to play anyway I have heard Slough’s pitch is only 18 yards long so he will be alright with them as they are bottom (what a looser).

We started very well with Dave Guthrie stepping in to help us out and Shashank both bowled very well in deed but due to good batting by one of there colts who scored 116 not out I would say that was the difference in the sides he only gave us a catch when he was on 90+ due to the short boundary it was always going to be hard to keep the runs down They finished with 275 for 4 wkts

Nat opened the batting with James Moore the confident side of Eversley who all walked out there had there smiles wiped from there faces as Nat hit his first ball out the ground and over an oak tree then the 3rd ball went even further this onslaught continued until Nat was bowled for 27 in just 13 balls James followed him with a good 15 this bought Jason to the crease He soon notched up 29 Jim failed with 4 Lemar (15)soon took control and looked in fine form only to be given out LBW which considering we seem to have had better appeals turned down I was a bit upset for the young colt. Joel then played well for 7 before we unleashed the beast Dave Guthrie who must have thought we were ducks at a shooting range as he smashed his first scoring shot for 6 he kept our entertaining cricket going with a 20 Kev was the next person to come in and smash 15 runs and looked good Alvin scored a well worked 21 before both of them fell to the finger (LBW) Fraz and Shashank were both left to there own devises Shashank eventually getting run out.

The last 3 games 2 of them we should have drawn this one we did not bat as well as we can and can not complain about the result I think we have learnt some big leasons and our younger players will improve they have fight and want to win we have a great team spirit on the field and with some good players coming in the next 2 weeks its going to be hard to drop people. But it will keep our guys on there toes. You never know some may be dropped to the thirds.

6th June 2008:

READING 3RD V THATCHAM TOWN

Having won the toss and elected to bat on wicket that was given the weather during the week was reasonable, having been struggling with the bat this year we started off decently but once the wickets started falling we were soon 70-6 with and again another  fight back from the tail in particular Ben berryman scoring 31. The final total 132 off 52 overs. The spirits were high in the field the bowlers bowled well we had thatcham 32-3, but as cricket can we dropped two catches at crucial points in the game the game was always in Thatchams grip. The knocked the runs on 44 overs that goes show how tight we bowled and the commitment in the field was good. It was another day were the batsmen let us down and the bowlers raised to the challenge and ensured to me and thatcham that reading will not let any one win with out a fight, so welldone guys who put in the effort with the ball and hopefully we can get the runs on the board this week.

READING 4TH V MARLOW 2'S

Reading won the toss and decided to field Shashank bowled well with control but not much luck Lemar bowled reasonably well but offered the Marlow with to many extras but was able to get 2 wkts Jamaal and Jim then entered the attack Jamaal taking 1 wkt but again giving away to many extras, Jim and Aubrey soon took control using the sun to dazzle the batsmen from their polished hair style’s. Jim taking 2 wkts and Aubrey taking 3wkts, for Marlow only 1 batsman got going scoring 68 after getting dropped on 0 of the bowling of Jim but latter smashed 20 runs of his last over. Nat came and bowled getting 1 wkt, Reading rapping Marlow’s innings up with 4 wkts in 4 overs Marlow finishing on 190 all out.

Reading batting got of to a reasonable start with Nat 16 before being caught at gully and Jim 32 who played around a straight ball then Taz 17 before gifting a full toss in the air for an easy catch. Alistair 4 came in and was disappointed with a leading edge also Kevin 8 was bowled but put on a reasonable partnership with Lemar 45 who for his age looked in total control and should have seen us home but with wkts continuing to fall at the other end. Fras 2 Jamaal 6 Shashank 0 It was left to Aubrey 7 not out to try and get us over the finishing line but with only Roger Wright who helped us out at the last minute due to one of the 3rd team breaking a finger nail or forgot to put his make up on? We eventually ended up 169 all out but I really do believe that we have learnt a big lesson and will improve this week

We shall improve our fielding and after watching Slough drop so many catches against our 1’s I thought certain people had been trained by them we not that bad.
We play Tring this week and we shall resume normal business.

29th May 2008:

READING 4TH V CHENIES & LATIMER

Reading won the toss and elected to bowl on a bowler’s grave yard.
Both openers Shashank and Lemar went about there bowling with a perfect line and length after the first 12 overs Chenies were 24 runs mostly coming from edges with 1 wkt down bowled by Shashank, this then bought Jim and Jamaal into the attack the wind certainly did not help Jamaal as he struggled a little but bowled the odd good ball. Joel replaced Jamaal to see if any spin could be effective on this batting paradise Joel found it difficult to get any movement at all so he was then replaced by Matt who also had the same problem after a quick team talk we decided to go back to Shashank and Lemar who were both able to bowl now just after Jim took 1 of his two wkts. With Shashank keeping it tight at one end and Lemar taking 2 wkts in 2 balls the other end he also bowled with good pace they both finished the full allocation of overs Shashank taking just 1 wkt but deserving more and Lemar taking 3 wkts as well as a stunning one handed catch at gully for his contribution he was awarded Man of The Match. This left 10 overs so Jamaal came on taking 1 wkt and Jim came on keeping it tight at the other end also taking a wkt Nat replaced Jamaal for the last 2 overs and took a wkt caught by his son Shashank Chenies ended up with 201 on a wkt you would be upset not to score at least 250+
Reading batting was enjoyable to watch as we reached 44 of just 7 overs but loosing Nat for a good 30 including 6 4’s this bought new boy Pav to the wkt both helped each other with good running and some class shots to all parts of the ground Pav end his innings with a fine 51 with 7 4’s and Jim who was out soon after scored 66 with 1 6 and 9 4’s Alistair and Kevin continued the scoring rate with Alistair smashing 40 not out with 6 4’s and 1 6 to finish the game off Kevin who supported him well hit 12 of 3 scoring shots
Reading finished the run chase in only 32.3 overs to maintain there position at the top.

We seem to be going in the right direction 6 runs an over playing entertaining cricket thankfully none of us read how to bat by Boycott.

Man of Match: L Maycock

19th May 2008:

READING 4TH V WYCOMBE DRAGS

After the previous week we were expecting a tough game but yet again our young colts done us proud.
Shashank and Lamar opened with good pace, line and length. Shashank taking 2 wkts in his first spell and Lamar taking one wkt. This then brought in Jamaal and Matt to bowl both taking one wkt each. Jamaal was keeping it tight and Matt bowling his leg spin keeping chances going.

But to bad weather we changed the bowling to our old experience bowlers Aubrey and Jim who both got two wkts each. With a rain break and tea before we were able to reintroduce Shashank and Lamar to finish the innings off.

Wycombe all out for 137

Our openers went about the run chase destroying a reasonable attack putting the ball to all parts Nat who was elected man of the match reached 71 runs not out without breaking a sweat and Jim who was dropped early in his innings went on to score 61 not outs and reaching the target within 16.1 overs.

We performed well but improvement on our fielding is required .

Lets win this Saturday.

12th May 2008:

READING 2ND XI VS FALKLAND 2XI

Reading lost the toss and Falkland elected to Bat. Ben Berryman took the first wicket in the his first over which was only the second over of the game. A partnership of 96 followed before our 2 spinners Singh and Zaman came in and bowled good spells Singh 2-46 and Zaman 2-36. Falkland finished on 202-8.

Reading had an excellent start and were 87-1 after 17 overs mainly through Q Ali (45) and P Turk (37) playing well. However the middle order collapsed and left Reading on 112-6 after 28 overs and the innings closed on 182-7 after 48 overs. Should've won!!