Reed into the National stages of the Persimmon Village Cup for the first time since 2008, travelled to Rottingdean on the East Sussex coast.
Winning the toss captain Lee Johnson had no hesitation in inserting the hosts. His decision proved the right one as both openers were quickly dispatched back to the pavillion with only 21 on the board, Lee Johnson and Jack Tidey with the wickets, younger brother Sean Tidey taking both wickets caught behind. It got no better for the home team as Johnson removed Corrigal and J Grantham to leave Rottingdean stareing down the barrell at 33 for 4.
After a brief respite Chris Peckett and Ed Garrott combined to dismiss Clarke (52 for 5). It took a sixty run partnership by M Grantham and Shepherd to start to bring some respectability to the East Sussex League’s total but further inroads by Peckett and wiley off-spinner Tom Greaves meant Rottingdean were 130 for 8 with just three overs of their allotted forty left. Some lusty hitting by the late order batsmen Bickmore and Smith left Rottingdean on 153 for 8 at the close of their innings. Lee Johnson 3-26, Chris Peckett 2-27 and Tom Greaves 2-38 the main wicket takers.
Reed openers Tom Greaves and Ed Garrott got the visitors off to a great start, Garrott playing the anchor role to Greaves shot maker. 74 was made before Garrott was bowled by Potter for 15, Karl Ward went quickly and Reed was left on 76 for 2. Stuart Smith, hero of the team in their last round victory over North Mymms came to join Greaves, and they together began to build an imposing partnership, just as it looked as Reed were going to throttle the life out of the game Potter removed Greaves for 72 (107 for 3). Smith now assumed the premier role, but the reintroduction in the bowling attack of Jamil from the Pavillion End proved to be the potential game turner.
Removing two Reed batsmen and then Smith himself for a dogged 24 Reed were wobbling and he wasn’t finished he brought Rottingdean back from the brink and at 134 for 8, a tense finish was on. Mitchell Cooper and skipper Lee Johnson crafted a brilliant 15 run partnership but Johnson’s Wicket left Reed on 149 for 9 going into the last two overs. The 39th Over yielded two runs, so three runs to win from six balls. Number eleven Peckett playing the first ball safely, he then attempted to lift the ball over Mid-off, Shepherd only 5′ 6″ lept salmon like to catch the ball one handed. Reed had lost by two runs. An exiting game that will long live in the memory.
