On a dry though somewhat cloudy May evening at the delightful Sawbridgeworth main ground, Reed won the toss and put Sawbridgeworth in to bat. Though Reed bowled well the good track and fast outfield favoured batting and despite the early loss of Ross Moorley run out after an injudicious call from his partner, Sawbo progressed to 75 – 1 in only the 11th over before Tom Waring fell caught for 13 and the excellent Gabriel Inch had to retire for a well constructed and hard hit 50. Will Heslam 4 overs 0 -14 was the pick of the early Reed bowlers. After the departure of Inch, Reed’s miserly bowling and fine fielding put a stranglehold on the Sawbo batsmen and despite their best efforts they lost wickets regularly to the tight bowling of Luke Cox 4 overs 2 – 13 and Will Kirby 4 overs 3 – 18. Reed took their catches well and contained the late Sawbo run charge. Sawbo finally totalled 104 – 8 off their 20 overs.
In the absence of the previously prolific Benham, Reeds reply got off to the worst possible start when Will Heslam, who has also been in dominant form, went first ball for a duck, well caught at slip off the bowling of James Wair. Worse followed when in the 2nd over Will Kirby also went for 0, bowled by James Gostling, leaving Reed struggling at 4 for 2. A fine partnership then developed between Reed skipper Sean Tidey and Sam Deville. The pair took the score to 44 in the 6th over before Deville was bowled by Gostling for a fine 23. Tidey however continued to lead the Reed charge and dominate the innings with a series of fine shots and excellent running between the wickets. After the loss of Scott Caine for 3, Lewis Fitzgerald joined Tidey at the crease with the score at 61 – 4 in the 9th over and the pair added a further 47 runs and proved able to lead Reed to a comprehensive win with a total of 108 – 4 with 3.5 overs to spare. Tidey finished unbeaten on 41 not out whilst Fitzgerald contributed a mature and confident 13 not out. Gostling with 2 – 19 proved the most successful of the 6 Sawbo bowlers used.
A good contest which ebbed and flowed, played in a fine setting and in an excellent spirit.
