Reece caps memorable season in style
Leyland's Luis Reece hit 1,027 runs to earn the TWP Financial Planning Batting Award
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Leyland's Luis Reece is the leading amateur batsman in the Furness Building Society Northern Premier League (incorporating Readers Cricket Balls).
Reece capped a magnificent personal season by becoming the first batsman in Leyland Cricket Club history to pass 1,000 runs in a season during last Saturday's derby match at Chorley.
He finished on 1,027 runs from 19 innings with two not outs, averaging just over 60 for the league runners-up.
Leyland pro Brett Pelser followed him into the record books in the same match, reaching four figures and finishing on 1,008 runs at an average of 67.20.
It's been a hectic summer for Reece who has played regularly for Leeds-Bradford UCCE, the Unicorns in the CB Pro40 and Lancashire Seconds while also completing a first year at university.
The talented left-handed batsman has covered many thousands of miles up and down the motorways of Britain as he strives to realise his dream of a county contract.
He played the final game of a packed season on Monday when Lancashire Seconds went down to defeat by four wickets off the penultimate ball off the match in the Second Eleven Trophy Final against Notts Seconds at Aigburth.
Reece had scored four half centuries in as many innings in Lancashire's path to the final and also scored an unbeaten 144 in his side's recent win at Hove over Sussex Seconds in a three-day match.
Atiq Uz-Zaman had dominated the Amateur Batting Awards for each of the previous three seasons and hit 975 runs, more than his tallies in each of the previous two seasons, but had to settle for runners-up spot this time around.
Reece will be presented with the TWP Financial Planning Batting award at the League presentation dinner to be held at Leyland Golf Club on Friday 7 October.
Preston captain Lukman Vahaluwala enjoyed a magnificent season and won the TWP Financial Planning Bowling award after taking 74 wickets- a new club amateur record.
Lukman Vahaluwala was a deserved winner of the Bowling Award |
The wicketkeeping award was lifted by Duncan Whalley of St Annes who earned 41 victims during the season, including eleven stumpings. Whalley also won the amateur award in 2005 and 2008 with 40 and 37 dismissals respectively as he played another major part in St Annes' fourth title in seven seasons.
Duncan Whalley claims one of his 41 victims, Preston's Mohsin Modi caught behind off Ben Willis |
Atiq Uz-Zaman and Leyland's James Rounding tied for the fielding award with 16 catches apiece, one more than Alex Smith (Blackpool) and Vahaluwala.
Leyland allrounder James Rounding tied with Atiq for the Fielding Award |
TWP Financial Planning Amateur Awards 2011
Batting - Luis Reece (Leyland) 1,027 runs
Bowling - Lukman Vahaluwala (Preston) 74 wickets
Wicketkeeping - Duncan Whalley (St Annes) 41 dismissals
Fielding - Atiq Uz-Zaman (St Annes) and James Rounding (Leyland) 17 catches (joint
