Reed plundered a healthy 20 point bounty on Saturday after tying a nail biting finale with Bishop’s Stortford away in Saracens Hertfordshire League Division 2. Freshly demoted from Division 1, the Bishop’s Stortford heavyweights took on the Division 3 champions in a needle match which saw both sides playing in a highly competitive spirit throughout.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first on what seemed a batsman friendly wicket, Reed got off to a dream start forging a 57 run partnership between Tom Fulk (17) and James Heslam (52) without losing a wicket. However, when Bishop’s Stortford removed their opening bowlers G. Gillard (7-2-21-0) and M.Dodshon (11-0-40-0), who bowled tightly without and luck, C.Thomas (7-0-18-2) managed to make a double breakthrough as he firstly had Tom Fulk caught behind, and soon bowled Chris Jackson around the legs for an unusual duck. Combined with James Heslam being stumped off Lindop, in a gross stroke of personal and team misfortune, Bishop’s Stortford mounted the bowling pressure and had Reed reeling for a short period. Their youthful fielders paid dividends as they saved runs in the field. Simon Lindop eventually returned impressive figures of 14.3-6-19-5.

Reed’s run rate ground slowly to a halt as Reed tried to re-consolidate, but their late burst for runs was too late. Baz Curtis (18), Will Clarke (23) and Richard Jerome (20) all made starts but mounting run pressure forced them to make rash shot-selections in a bid for final runs. Reed’s tail failed to muster many, and they were eventually bowled out for a meagre 144 off 51.3 overs, leaving their hosts an extra over to reach the required total.

Reed’s reply began with vigour as Will Clarke (9-2-32-1) and Michael Berks (10-2-19-1) made early inroads, leaving Bishop’s Stortford reeling on 13 for 2. However, the Bishop’s Stortford skipper, S.Barnard (51) remained resolute and refused to budge. Yet, some trademark tight bowling from Reed talismen Peter Tidey (16-5-51-4) and Richard Jerome (13-3-34-3) ensured that wickets fell at regular intervals at the other end. Many batsmen failed to capitalise on scores in the teens, with L.Humphrey (19), A.Wacey (14) and D.Jones (15) all guilty. When Barnard was bowled by Jerome, Bishop’s Stortford’s tail was subject to a test of its run-scoring ability. A late flurry of scoring strokes through the covers from M.Dodshon (22) left Reed in the precarious position of staving off a loss, whilst also gunning for a win. As the overs expired, and the scores levelled three balls from the end, a wicket fell on the penultimate ball. This placed the Bishop’s Stortford no 11, C.Thomas, in a difficult position of trying to score a run for victory off the final ball to avoid a tie. He failed to complete this after the close fielders managed a scrambled to secure their 20 points.

Reed now lie 16th in the table, and are due to face Hoddesdon IIs at home next Saturday, followed up by the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire finals of the National Village Cup away at Langlebury the following day.

On an even more positive note, Reed have sped through to the semi finals of the midweek Keatley Cup. As defending champions, both their round 1 and round 2 opponents (Standon, Aspenden & Puckeridge and Melbourne respectively) were unable to field a side due to injury and the forthcoming Euro 2004 football championships! This semi-final is due to be played on a neutral ground in the next 3 weeks.