TWO cup wins in successive weeks have given the much-changed Reading 1st XI a big confidence boost ahead of their opening Home Counties Premier League game against Tring Park at Sonning Lane this Saturday (11.30am), writes Dave Wright.

And it means a quick return for Tring as they were the visitors in the league’s T20 tournament last Monday which saw Reading edge home by two runs.

Both sides, however, will field stronger sides in this week’s 50/50 format.

The close season has seen sweeping changes at the club with long-time skipper David Hartley moving to Devon and five players moving to other clubs.

Head coach Bobby Malik has been busy recruiting with the newcomers including Aussie batsman Ryan James and experienced Pakistan wicketkeeper Muhammad Qaiser.

“A lot has happened in the last three months and there are several new faces at the club now, with possibly more to come,” said Malik.

“We have worked hard in training, which is now twice a week, and I am delighted with the attitude of all the players. They are gelling quickly together and there is a very good buzz around the club.

“I am looking for a squad of 14 or 15 players for the first team, but the door will always be open to other players. If they do consistently well for the 2nd XI then they, too, will come under consideration.

“Competition for places is always healthy and the first-team players know they have to perform if they are to retain their place.”

Malik has set targets for all his players, ranging from a minimum of 400 runs for the season for the senior batsmen, 200 for the lower order, and at least 20 wickets for the bowlers.

All players will also have to follow a specialised training programme devised by Malik, who has won Berkshire’s top award in the ECB category two coaching awards.

Reading finished a creditable fourth last year in their first season after being promoted, and Malik believes the team can continue to surprise a few of the more fancied clubs this summer.

Big things are expected of all-rounder Jack Beaven, who played a major role in his side’s wins over Spencer in the National Club Championship and then Tring Park last Monday.

He scored 19 off 23 balls in Reading’s total of 139-8 and then took 2-17 in his four overs to restrict the Herts side to 137-6.

Tring needed 16 runs of the last two overs and then seven off the last.

In the latter, Beaven, who was skippering the side, bowled four dot balls before seeing Kashif Nasim run out Dan Tidey for a duck.

Opener Robin Pritchard, who had been left stranded at the non-striker’s end, needed to smack a six off the final ball to tie the game, but managed only a four, leaving him unbeaten on 55 off 42 balls.

In addition to Beaven, several teammates made useful contributions with Firaz Amjad hitting 26, Amardeep Dosinjh 17, Pav Chima 16, Malik 15no and Nasim 12no.

While Beaven was the most successful of the home bowlers, there were wickets for Malik (1-15), Rob Cassie (1-17) and Dosinjh (1-19).

The Tring side included former Sonning Lane player Shelvin Gumbs and his 12-year-old brother, Sheridan, and they were both among the wickets, Shelvin (2-21) and Sheridan (1-30).

Curran Gaur, another ex-Reading player, has joined a Tring side heavily boosted by the arrival of batsmen Ben Abbott from Australia.

Abbott has made an incredible start to his career in England, smashing a club record individual score of 271 (27x6s, 16x4s) off 128 balls in a friendly game against Buckingham Town last Saturday.

Tring finished with 462-7 off 50 overs before limiting their visitors to 284-7.

It is another busy weekend for Reading as on Sunday (1pm) they visit Teddington in the second round of the ECB National Club Championship.