Village cup finalists Reed, traveled to hosts Barrington on Tuesday, with hopes of a fourth successive Keatley Cup victory firmly in their sights. Barrington won the toss and elected to bat. Jackson unleashed Andrew Young and with more than a little help from a lively wicket, he bagged a couple of top order batsman for just 6 runs from his 4 overs. Unusually his opening partner Tidey was relatively easy pickings and although, snaffling a solitary wicket proved the most expensive Reed bowler. The remaining eight overs were divided between Archer (2-14) and Chris Jackson (3-9).

Jackson was a surprising choice to bowl, after taking some fearful “tap” on Sunday in the NVC, but the slow medium bowler, noticeably gained confidence after his opening over. His second produced a double wicket maiden, and with Archers two clean bowled wickets at the other end, Barrington’s innings closed on 61 – 8, Archer firmly knocking door of the Village cup final team.

A small target can often prove difficult to chase, and Barrington’s started keenly. Young sent in as a pinch hitter continued his dismal batting form, bowled second ball. Tom Fulk came and went for 9 as Douglas’s second victim (2 -11). So it was left to Curtis, without a run for weeks, and youngster Marcus Martin to grasp the baton. The pair pushed Reed to within site of the finish line, before Curtis fell to a good catch for a top score 18. Reed also lost Ward, and Ben Bowles suffered a few major lbw scares before Martin smashed the winning boundary. Reed await news of their semi final opponents in a buoyant mood.