Reed overcame Royston in the first round of the Keatley Cup at the heath on Thursday Night.

The hosts won the toss and put Reed into bat. Baz Curtis, returning from several seasons break from midweek cricket and James Heslam opened the innings for the visitors. Despite a big six from Curtis in the 1st over Reed suffered an early setback as he was dismissed for 8, run out following good work from Royston’s John Welch. 2 other Reed wickets also fell in quick succession leaving the visitors in some trouble at 25-3. However, Tom Fulk and Heslam proceeded to push the total onto 53-3 after 7 overs. Although Heslam then fell for 23, a few too many wides from the Royston bowlers and some good lower order batting from Stuart Smith (8) Marcus Martin (10) and Jim Allsopp (16) who hit 2 big sixes, assisted Fulk (21) in enabling Reed to post a competitive total of 111 from their 15 eight ball overs.

It was game on as Royston’s Welch and Newman took to the crease. However, Welch was superbly caught in the deep by Martin for 1. Despite this early dismissal, Newman and Graham built a decent partnership. With Royston at 32-1 after 5 overs the game was still finely poised. But then with the introduction of Flack (3-27), making his Reed debut and the two crucial wickets of Newman (19) and Graham (11) by Peter Tidey (3-11), the visitors took control as Royston were reduced to 45-5. Captain Smith was in fine form behind the stumps and successfully marshalled his troops who fielded well throughout. Along with some tight bowling this meant that from this point on wickets began to fall regularly as Reed restricted the home side to always being behind the required rate. Although Miller (24 Not Out) offered some hope he received little support and Reed rapped up the innings with Jason Archer finishing a useful spell with the final wicket of Hall leaving Royston all out for 82 in the 14th over. Reed the deserved victors by 29 runs enter the draw for the semi-finals in one week’s time.