Ribblesdale League: Paul's purple patch (5 May 1999)

5 May 1999

Ribblesdale League: Paul's purple patch

Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Beefy batsman Paul Reed certainly isn't making a meal of it when he arrives at the crease this season.

Cherry Tree's 18st man-mountain has smashed more sixes than singles in a four game purple-patch which has reaped over 300 runs so far.

His run feast started with 103 in a pre-season friendly against Atherton - 72 of which came in sixes.

On the opening day of the new season he struck another five sixes in a blistering 69 not out against Oswaldtwistle Immanuel. And last Saturday, Settle were on the receiving end as the big-hitting 35-year-old bludgeoned another 10 sixes in an awesome 111.

Twenty-four hours later, Baxenden looked set for the same treatment after four fours and three sixes saw him race to 35. But they were spared any further punishment when a lapse of concentration cost him his wicket.

"I've hit more sixes than singles so far this season - in fact, I bet I've hit less than 10 singles in all my innings put together," said Reed.

"But being 18st, I've given up trying to run them."

A knee injury kept him out of the firing line last season where he tended to bat at either eight or nine in the order.

But hours spent in the gym over the winter have helped nurse him back to fitness and he's now batting in his more favoured position at number four.

"Obviously, the chance to spend more time at the middle has helped. But I didn't actually practice or go to nets during the winter.

"The first time I picked up a bat was in a pre-season friendly against Atherton when I scored 103.

"And I've made a better start than normal because it usually takes me until the middle of the season to get going."

Now Reed, who owns Alghero's Italian restaurant in Blackburn, hopes to go out with a bang in what looks like being his last season in the Ribblesdale League.

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (https://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/)