It was a back and forth game to finish the 2012 season where both sides had time on top. Tom Greaves and his army of young, yet talented faces played host to annual rivals Knebworth Blue. Dave Saunders captaining the visitors won the toss and elected to bat first at The Green.
Saunders himself led the way with a brutal attack on the opening bowlers Tom Walsingham and Joe Graves. Both where unlucky with some simple catches dropped, letting Reeds usually high fielding standards down. Both Walsingham and Graves would return for second spells but it was the replacement of Graves for Sean Tidey that brought about the first wicket, Saunders bowled for a brutal 49.
This was followed not long after with Marcus J.E. Baker getting the wicket of Pomery (18) thanks to a catch at mid off by Rhodri Hughes. Although Baker was getting good turn and would later claim another wicket his lack of consistency allowed Knebworth Blue to again gain the advantage with several boundaries coming in the middle overs of the innings.
With Matt Bowles replacing Baker and Alex Kelly (5-1-4-1) beginning an impressive spell coming up the hill, Reed began to close The Blues scoring options, leading to Kelly catching off his own bowling Wallis (89) who had skied one in frustrat ion. Walsingham (8-2-27-1) came back to claim one, whilst Will Heslam took 2 in his solitary over as the opposition finished their 40 overs on a par score of 255 for 8.
Will Heslam and Dominic McOmish opened the Reed response and soon found the gaps as both made runs easily. Heslam especially was finding the boundary regularly as the pair went past 100. However, this good partnership came to an end when McOmish was stumped for 25 in the 16th over. Tom Greaves came to the crease and didn’t allow things to get bogged down as he and Heslam continued to work the gaps making 49 together in only 7 overs.
The bowling change of Pomery seemed to become the crucial upset to what was looking like an easy chase for Reed. Pomery bowled Heslam with his first ball round his legs only 9 runs short of a deserved 100. This breakthrough opened the Watergates as 4 more wickets including Greaves (33) fell for just 12 runs leaving Reed on 162 for 6 and only 14 overs to reach their target.
The new batsmen, Sean Tidey and M.J.E. Baker, refused to feel the pressure of the situation and played their natural game. Both tallied up boundaries, Baker attacking the leg side whilst Tidey smashed them straight back down the ground. They made 96 runs off 57 balls taking Reed over the line with 4 wickets in hand, Baker 50 not out and Tidey 47 not out.
This ended the 2012 season for Reeds Sunday Seconds. Whilst there have not been many games this season for the side there certainly have been many memorable performances to look back upon. Look out for the captain’s report for more details in a few months time.
