Reed bowed out of the National Village Cup on Sunday against Essex’s High Roding. Electing to bat the home side were in deep trouble at 23 for 3 after a hostile opening burst from Andy Young. Butterman and captain Hussain steadied things but Butterman’s wicket left High Roding precariously placed at 69 for 4. Enter Blackwell with a quick fire 39 of 39 balls. When Hussain was out for 52, High Roding were 150 for 6 with still eight overs left to bat, Reed didn’t count though on Clarke (30) and Farley-Clarke (46 off just 22 balls) striking the ball to all corners of the field and Reed were left with a testing 231 to chase for victory.
Curtis & Heslam gave Reed a solid foundation of 43 before Curtis was out LBW for 19, Heslam soon followed for 16. Chris Jackson & Phil Frenay with the help of some wayward bowling took Reed to 95 before Frenay was run out.
This then served as a catalyst for skipper Hussain and Sargent to spin High Roding’s fightback and expose Reed’s middle order. Both took three wickets as Reed slumped from 103 for 4 to 132 for 9, only tail end resistance from Will Clarke and Pete Tidey gave Reed’s score respectability but they were dismissed for 148 in the 33rd over. The Essex side victorious by 82 runs.
