Heavy rain over the past week had left Reed’s pitch resembling more of a Bangladeshi delta than a sporting venue, but the tireless efforts of groundsman Richard Robertson and a warm breeze ensured that the damp squib was safe to play, albeit in a 32 over aside reduced format.

With the prospect of a bowl out to decide who would book a place in the semi finals, both sides were keen to play, and the weather did little to dampen their spirits.

Having won the toss, and electing to field, the visitors made light work of the opening three Reed batsmen on a lively yet slow pitch, reducing the hosts to a 22 for 3 off 6 overs, with Wilkinson (7-2-23-2) doing the early damage. Mindful of Reed being skittled for a paltry target, William Clarke (33) and Tom Fulk (37) dug in and began to blunt the Bay’s attack with some impressive aerial shots to reach the boundary and avoid the sodden outfield. Tom Fulk suffered an uncharacteristic torn leg muscle that eventually led him to require a runner, but certainly hindered him progressing to a higher total. When he fell to a reckless stroke, Richard Robertson (19) partnered Clarke to press the score a little further before Clarke was adjudged LBW with the score on 100 and 24 overs gone. Perhaps thankfully, this brought the lightfooted skipper, Simon Jackson (21*) to the crease, who worked the ball well into many areas with Marcus Martin (7*), as they hared between the wickets to drag the total to 152-6. It was doubted that this would be enough to defend, but Botany Bay certainly underestimated Reed’s deep bowling attack.

The innings could not have got off to a better start as Clarke achieved a direct hit to run out openers A.Harris who opted for a kamikaze run. Clarke (7-1-21-1) then followed up with a ball that left D.Lawrence’s off stump horizontal. Peter Tidey, Reed’s iconic stalwart, meanwhile kept runs very tight at the opposite end registering 7-2-11-0. Some sharp fielding by Chris Jackson accouted for Wilkinson run out, and Karl Ward (6-2-20-1) quickly followed up with by sending S.Hunt back down the A10 with a ball that moved in sharply to connect with his middle stump. This allowed S.Clark (30) and J Hayes (29) to take grip of the innings as they began to take the game away from Reed, but this was the perfect platform for Reed?s Muralitharan, Chris Jackson (5-0-16-2), to end their party, aided by a sharp catch by his brother keeping wicket. The tail was truly exposed by now, and it allowed Jason Arher (7-1-27-1) and Marcus Martin (1-0-2-1) the perfect opportunity to toy with them and snaffle a couple of late wickets, as the Bay limped to a meagre 107-8.

Simon Jackson, 1XI and club captain, was delighted with the performance: “On a difficult wicket, and with our backs against the wall after 6 overs, we truly showed some depth in spirit to post a target which in hindsight was challenging. Our bowlers then exploited the pitch with guile to see us a step closer to Lords”