Reed lost the village cup regional final to Langleybury last Sunday despite putting in a battling performance. The hosts put Langleybury into bat on a decent Reed track with the intention of keeping the visitors down and chasing down the target with a long batting line up in place. The Langleybury innings got off to a dramatic start with a run out just the 2nd over after a sharp piece of work by Chris Jackson at slip. Jack Tidey (1-48) bowled very well in his first regional final and took the wicket of the dangerous Anim bowled for 10.
This left Langleybury 17-2 after 4 overs. The Langleybury number 4 E Lee (25) however came in and played some lusty blows so much so that the visitors had raced onto 65-2 after 12 overs despite the Reed opening attack of Tidey and Graham Wilson (1-40) bowling well. At this point Heslam turned to the spin of Tom Greaves however and it seemed to do the trick as he bowled well and the prolific Lee struggled and was caught at point by a brilliant diving catch by Smith. This then led to the game settling down where Oxley (74) and Godden (60) established themselves and scored runs but without ever really accelerating as Reed controlled them well in the field through excellent bowling and fielding. The economical Lee Johnson (0-34) and Ed Garrott (1-42) bowling particularly well. The visitors were 172-3 after 37 overs which gives a good indication of how no wickets were taken but the visitors failed to get away. In the final few overs, Garrott took a well deserved wicket and Wilson also chipped in with one as Langleybury finished on 198-5 after their 40 overs. All the Reed bowlers bowled well.
This was certainly a gettable total for the home side but unfortunately they got off to the worst possible start losing Heslam and Chris Jackson both for ducks in the first 3 overs. Tom Greaves (46) and Ed Garrott however showed great maturity in then setting about stabilising the innings. That they did very well to take the score to 31-2 before Garrott also went to the impressive bowling of Cheesman (3-49). Greaves nevertheless looked in excellent form and when he and Smith (42) had taken the score up to 80-3 after 17 overs the chase looked possible.
However, Greaves who played some beautiful shots to all parts of the ground then went caught on the boundary. At this point, Smith set out to anchor the innings and this he did very well but unfortunately each time a partnership was being built another wicket went. Phil Frenay was out for 10 to one that turned sharply and then Martin was unlucky to be run out for 7 when looking good. All rounder Jack Tidey (36*) then joined Smith at the crease and they played some good shots and battled hard but unfortunately with the field spread and the Langleybury bowlers giving very little away, Reed couldn’t quite hit the necessary boundaries now required. With the rate creeping up Smith too went caught and the game was beyond Reed. Reed ended on 183-7, not far away and with many heads held high but unfortunately never quite ahead of the game in their run chase.
