Another extraordinary match took place on Sunday at Reed, as they entertained wandering side Saracens, which consisted of 6 Division 4 Holtwhites Trinibis League players. The game ended in an unlikely low scoring tie.

Batting first, Reed began solidly reaching 47-1, as William Clarke (15) and Roger Bowcock (21) managed to successfully manage Australian opener Morgan (12-3-25-3) early on, who bowled with good pace and venom.

But it was the father and son A and M Bigby combination which made the real inroads as they took 5 wickets between them. Struggling, following a middle order collapse of 67-6, 1XI opener Tom Fulk (47) and Tim Martin (15) managed to steady the ship.

With some late runs by 2XI League bowler Jason Archer (17) at number 10, Reed limped to what appeared to be an uncompetitive 157 all out off 46 overs on a batting friendly wicket.

However, Archer (18-6-43-1) got off to a dream start as he bowled his first 8 over spell for 8 runs, and some excellent bowling from u17 Cambridgeshire fast bowler Rupert Martin (8-3-25-0) ensured that Saracens began very slowly indeed. Yet without a breakthrough, the total was always attainable.

Skipper, Clarke (10-2-34-2), brought himself on and managed to force the breakthrough as he bowled D.Owen third ball. Yet this brought P.Micallett (68) to the middle, who in conjunction with Peter Morley (43*), pushed the score to 20 short of the total, with ease.

Yet Reed always felt that they had a chance to drawing the game if the could snatch a couple of wickets. It eventually came, when Clarke brought himself back on up the hill. Micallett, attempting a hook stroke after the field had been pulled in saving one, was spectacularly caught and bowled with a ball that never seemed to come down.

This wicket triggered serious unease at the wicket as Archer then struck with the LBW of the Saracens skipper for a duck. The run chase was on, and Reed persevered with a close field against some new batting in an attempt to stop any rotation of the strike. The tactic worked as three run outs followed in quick succession, notably a direct hit by u15 David Johnson.

Saracens eventually reached the Reeds total on the last ball of the game to force the tie after 51 overs of turgid cricket.