The Lords Dream lives on as Rampant Reed move into last four
After a momentous week which saw them lift the midweek Keatley Cup on Wednesday, and stride up their league towards a promotion place with another win on Saturday, Reed crowned it all with a win in their UK last 8 in clash in the Yorkshire Tea National Village Cup on Sunday. Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire Champions Reed took on East Sussex Champions Plumpton & East Chiltington away in Sussex and came away from the south coast with a fine 4 wicket win achieved with 7 overs to spare.
In front of a crowd estimated at around 400, with a very sizeable proportion having travelled to support the Reed team, Reed controlled the match from the very start with a dominant display in the field. Plumpton won the toss and chose to bat on what proved to be a dry but low and slow wicket, on an overcast day, which ultimately did see the rain intervene in proceedings.
In the face of a hostile opening bowling spell led by Lee Johnson (9 Overs 3-18) and Jack Tidey (9 Overs 2 -37), the home side were never allowed to settle or build any sizeable partnerships. The bowlers were backed up by magnificent Reed fielding which readily contained the Plumpton attempts to accumulate runs. A magnificent one handed catch at slip by Chris Jackson, and a marvellous direct hit run out by William Heslam, typified the Reed control and dynamism in the field. 16-1, became 20-2, 40-3, 50-4 and 51-5 as Reed strangled the Plumpton innings. At 65-5 at the 20 overs halfway point the home team innings was deep in trouble. It never truly recovered as Mitchell Cooper (9 Overs 1-22), Kallum Ward (5 Overs 0-14), and Tom Greaves (6.3 Overs 3-8) maintained the Reed pressure and saw Plumpton dismissed for a below par 103 all out in 38.3 overs with only No. 4 Smith 31 and No. 10 Ward 10 reaching double figures. Extras of 28 accounted for over a quarter of the Plumpton total despite keeper Sean Tidey conceding only a single Bye.
Chasing 104 to win the Reed innings got off to a very hesitant start against spin twins Batchelor and Brinkhurst who had spearheaded several of Plumptons previous wins in the competition. Both Heslam brothers James and William were dismissed cheaply, and when the dangerous Tom Greaves went for 9 with the score at 24-3, Reed were wobbling. However the experienced pair of Chris Jackson and Stuart Smith stood firm and put together what proved to be the match winning partnership for Reed. With great application the pair took the score from 24-3 to 78 with a fine partnership of 54 that turned the match firmly in Reeds favour, before Smith was bowled for a vital 21. Jackson however stood firm determined to stay at the crease and once again see Reed over the win line.
The weather was now seeking to get involved as dark heavy cloud threatened the tie. Reed moved pinch hitter Jack Tidey up the order with instructions to ensure that Reeds run rate was above their oppositions should the match not be able to fully conclude. Jack complied with a huge 6 early on but at 87-4 after 29 overs the clouds opened up and the players had to leave the field with the playing strip rapidly protected by the covers. Reed however had by then achieved their objective of leading on run rate and with only 17 needed to win, with 6 wickets in hand and 11 overs remaining, the tie was surely theirs.
After a half hour the rain relented and the players returned to the field. Reed then moved to 99 before Tidey was bowled for 11. Brother Sean replaced Jack but he fell LBW for 1 with the score at 100-6 with Reed now needing just 4 to win. Though Plumpton hoped for a miracle, the ever dependable Jackson saw Reed over the finishing line ending with the games top score of 40 not out as Reed registered the required 104, for the loss off 6 wickets in 33 Overs.
Celebrations followed late into the evening, and on the long coach journey home to Hertfordshire as the young Reed team had achieved a best ever club Village Cup performance by making it to the last 4 in the competition.
As in the last round the Reed team contained 10 ex colts in their line up, a testament to the Clubs longstanding and successful youth training academy. In the National Semi Final on Sunday August 12th Reed will travel away again, this time to take on Goatacre the Dorset and Wiltshire Champions. A hoped for win in Wiltshire will see the Reed team stride out in the Lords Final on Sunday September 9th!!
