On Sunday Reed entertained Forest Gate on a glorious day at The Green. After the retirement of captain Ed Blissett last week, it was the responsibility of Richard Barlow to successfully win the toss and elect to bat on what looked to be a very good batting surface.Openers William Heslam and Stuart Smith made a steady start, punishing the bad ball and playing some classy strokes before Heslam departed for 25 as S.Sharif claimed his first wicket. At 36-1, Sean Tidey came in to partner Smith as they looked to increase the run rate. Tidey played confidently from ball 1 and raced to 50 before Smith was bowled by O.Sher for a well crafted 37.
Marcus J E Baker then strode out to the wicket looking to continue with the aggressive intent that Reed had displayed early on. The pair did just this as Reed reached 163-2 at the drinks interval. After a break from the late July sunshine, Reed carried on where they had left off by playing with class, power and confidence with Tidey in particular impressing bringing up a brutal century. He hit the ball to all parts of the ground with perfect timing and amassed 17 boundaries before retiring after raising his bat. Barlow came in to bat and led by example, supporting Baker as the pair found gaps in the field and reached the boundary regularly.
The duo brought up their 50’s with the powerful Baker retiring on 53 and the intricate Barlow, who brought up his 50 with a fantastic reverse sweep before he too retired on exactly 50. Reed capped off thier innings with some lusty blows from Rob Willoughby (6), Tom Greaves (6*) and Matthew Bowles who made 16 including a gigantic 6 over wide mid wicket. S.Sharif (7-0-41-2) and A.Siddique (8-0-46-1) were the pick of the Forest Gate bowlers as Reed ended on 317 from their 40 overs.
In reply, Forest Gate started positively. H.Zarfan in particular came to the crease with intent, hammering the ball to the boundary early on. This plan soon backfired for Zarfan as he was snared by Jack Tidey who supported the consistant Neil Haslam who was building pressure at the other end. A.Siddique went along nicely, making a solid 40 in the process, before being caught by Willoughby off the bowling of Haslam (8-2-60-3). The pace and bounce of Mitchell Cooper earnt him the wicket of I.Siddique for 19. Cooper and Haslam bowled well in partnership and caused problems throughout with both returning impressive figures considering the circumstances of the game. Haslam in particular made regular breakthroughs including the wicket of U. Farooq for 18.
Will Heslam replaced Cooper and immediately made an impression picking up the wicket of T.Messiah, partly thanks to the spectacular athleticism used by Willoughby in taking the catch. Spinner Tom Greaves came in to the attack and quickly got rid of both O.Sher and Z.Chowdery after the latter had made a masterful 51. Greaves (4-1-19-2) deceived Chowdery in the flight and turn with the ball hitting his off stump whilst playing a leave. With the run rate getting away from Forest Gate, Barlow decided to use some less frequent bowlers with Willoughby, Bowles, Baker, S.Tidey and Barlow himself sharing the remaining overs, with all returning respectable figures.
Mystery spinner Matt Bowles bagged the wicket of S.Singh, caught behind, after teasing the edge of Singh’s bat. After some big hitting from S.Sharif (26), Sean Tidey finished off the game for Reed with a sharp caught and bowled. A courageous effort from Forest Gate saw them bowled out for 209 in 31 overs. A strong all round performance from Reed saw them win by 108 runs in a well spirited and greatly enjoyed fixture at The Green.
