Reed and Old Finchleians went in to Saturday’s fixture knowing a win was vital in their relegation battle. A true 60 pointer. Thanks to the wicket being covered over night it still looked a good batting track. Baz Curtis won the toss for the home side and had no hesitation to bat first. Reed lost Richard Johnson early, but Reed looked solid and had reach 40 before Curtis was LBW for 26. This brought in Will Clarke who joined Fergus Martin. They put on a solid 59 with a mixture of fine drives and some good running. The introduction of Thakkar brought Old Finchleians back into the game. He bowled Martin for 21 and then had Clarke LBW for 38.
In games past this would have triggered a collapse, but despite losing another wicket when they had reached 129 Reed seemed more confident they could post a decent total and get some valuable batting points. This was probably due to the return to form of Roddi Liebenberg. He looked more like his old self, finding the boundary regularly. He was the 7th wicket to fail when Reed had reached 181, just 4 away from 8 batting points. Liebenberg and the returning Simon Jackson had put on a valuable 27. Jackson shepherded the tail well and it wasn’t out of the question that Reed might make 200, but that wasn’t to be as they were all out for 191 with Jackson 18 not out.
The clouds were filling over the Reed pavilion a sure sign the forecast rain was coming. Peter Tidey managed to strike before the first rain break. The cover was whisked on, but taken off before any time was lost. The second downpour wasn’t far behind and this time 8 over were lost, but the cover did its job or the game could well have been in doubt. This both teams keen to play the match restarted quickly.
Tom Walsingham again bowled a good opening spell and produced a brute of a ball to have K. Depala caught off the glove. Peksad and H. Depala kept Old Finchleians on target if not favourites for victory with some fine running and ball striking. It took a fine catch from Richard Barlow at mid wicket off the bowling of Tidey to remove Depala for 23. Thakkar was dropped first ball and took full advantage racing to 26. Walsingham was brought back into the attack and his very first ball had the desired effect bowling Thakkar for 26. Walsingham then struck again the very next ball taking a caught and bowled.
Suddenly Old Finchleians were 113-5. What would they do. Go for it, or settle for some decent points know other games were probably rained off. To their credit they continued the chase. Tidey came back to bowl the last up hill overs and got the vital wicket of Peksad for 67. A fine leg side stumping from Marcus Baker. Walsingham finished his spell with another victim and finished with fine figures of 4-40 from 12 overs. Toby Fynn replaced him and had to bowl the last over. Old Finchleians were now out of the run chase, but could Reed get 30 points?
Fynn took a low caught and bowled to remove the dangerous Heshdepala for 24 and then with the last ball of the game had Jackson LBW leaving Old Finchleians 20 runs short and Reed taking all 30 point.
