Saturday saw Reed 1XI officially gain promotion to Hertfordshire’s premier cricket league, as they finished with 408 points, narrowly behind Berkhamsted to gain a position in Division 1 of the Saracen’s Herts League, facing many of Hertfordshire’s finest cricketing elite. With 408 points, Reed finished a comfortable 61 points ahead of third placed Flitwick.
Despite promotion already guaranteed before the game started, as Flitwick decided earlier in the week not to appeal a decision by the Hertfordshire League to deduct 20 points for ineligible player selection, Reed aimed to end the season on a winning note, and they eventually produced one of the most thrilling games of the season, as their opponents Abbots Langley played a competitive and spirited game, eager to ensure their own survival in the Division.
Losing the toss, James Heslam’s team were asked to bowl on a pitch which was distinctly suited to batsmen, and it was shown as Abbots Langley took early control. This was despite their opener C Foster being run out by an uncharacteristic piece of sharp fielding from Richard Johnson at point. However, C Smith (87) and T Porter (16) steadied the ship slightly taking the score to 26. Both Peter Tidey (13-6-35-0) with his season league haul of 36 wickets, and William Clarke (15-2-62-3) with his 28 wicket haul, struggled with the new ball on a true wicket. It took a fortunate inside edge of Porter’s bat to unsettle the visitors, as Clarke bowled him, but this proved a nail in Reed’s coffin as Carlisle (80) came to the crease whose intelligent and measured shot selection around the wicket, combined with Smith’s stubborn play, built a 145 run partnership taking the score to 171. It took the introduction of young off spinner Ed Garrott (15-3-61-3) to remove Carlisle in the deep. He then followed up by removing J Cox (10) thanks to a sensational full length diving catch at deep wide mid on from Marcus Martin to end his contribution, in what was probably the finest catch at the village green this season. Smith remained in place, but other batsmen failed to build an effective partnership with him as Garrott took another wicket, and Clarke came back in a second spell to claim a further brace, both bowled. Abbots Langley took their score to a competitive 222 for 7 off their 53 overs on a true and batting friendly wicket, presenting Reed with a challenging total to chase in their 47 overs.
Reed’s reply began well with Curtis (14) and Heslam (27) working the ball well around the ground off openers S Hird (8-0-26-3) and L Watson (2-0-14-0). However when the score reached 45, Hird struck, triggering a mini collapse. He firstly had Curtis caught at midwicket with a powerful strike, and shortly followed up thanks to a spectacular one handed catch at gulley by M Bishop to remove James Heslam. Tom Fulk then lasted 3 balls before being adjudged LBW. Reed were reeling on 48 for 3. It was on the shoulders of Phil Frenay (20) and William Clarke (27) to settle the boat, as they consolidated but despatched the bad ball to take the score to 79 off 20 overs, before Frenay tried to work the ball to the leg side and gained a leading edge to mid on off spinner C Foster (15-1-63-3). Clarke began to rebuild with Simon Jackson (63), until the former too was unlucky to pick the only leg side fielder at square leg with a powerful clip off his legs, the score on 101.
By now, Simon Jackson had found his feet, and he teamed together with Marcus Martin (30) to run hard between the wicket and punish poor bowling. They took the score to 165 off 38 overs, before Martin was given out LBW off Foster. The pressure was still on Reed to maintain the run rate which Ed Garrott (7) managed to do with Simon Jackson, until he tried a swipe across the line that bowled him. Richard Johnson (20*) took on his role, as the pair pushed towards the total – whilst Simon Jackson passed his 200 run milestone for the season and his maiden League half century to the season. When Jackson fell trying to push the run rate, Johnson was batting with the tail. Peter Tidey did not last long, and Johnson was under pressure to score 9 in the final over with only Graham Wilson (4*) to bat with. Reed decided to push for a win, and Johnson, in enigmatic and nonchalant style drove Byrne for a straight six requiring 3 – a single left Wilson on strike, and he advanced down the wicket to smear Byrne through the covers for 4 off the final ball and register Reed’s 10th League victory of the season and ensure promotion to Division 1.
James Heslam commented: “I am so proud of our team – promotion to Division 1 is beyond the club’s historical achievements and the team’s dreams. Everyone did their job this season, resulting in our elevation – we had 3 batsmen score over 500, 1 over 300, 2 over 200 and 2 nearly 200, with all bowlers taking wickets. It will be hard next year as a village club with no overseas professional, but we have consistently managed to step up our performance dependent upon opposition”
