Reed continue to battle hard in the race for promotion thanks to a dramatic last over victory at Hitchin. Reed won the toss and took the risk of bowling first on a green looking wicket knowing one of Hitchin’s key bowlers was unavailable.
The visitors made a decent start with Jack Tidey (3-32), Mitchell Cooper, Tom Greaves (1-68) and Rupert Martin (2-55) all bowling well. This along with another direct hit run out by Will Heslam left Hitchin at 104-6 off 33 overs when the weather intervened. Unfortunately this break which was surprisingly extended to include tea disrupted Reed’s rhythm and when they returned a combination of some lacklustre Reed play and good batting by Hitchin saw the home side eventually make 224-9 off their 52 overs. No.4 Sharma made an excellent knock of 97 not out including some big hitting in the last few overs and he was well supported by No. 8 Neale (41).
In reply Reed knew they needed a positive start and they got this to a certain degree at 25-0 off 5 overs. However, both Heslam’s fell soon after for 12. Nevertheless Greaves and Chris Jackson not only repaired the damage but kept the scoring rate up moving Reed along to 93-2 in the 21st over. Although Greaves fell for an impressive run a ball 44 Stuart Smith joined Jackson (37) and another good partnership took the score to 125-3 in 28 overs. By this point the run rate had increased a little to over 6 an over but this was ok as long as Reed’s middle or lower order could bat well. Smith took on the role of anchoring the innings and did so impressively. He was supported by particularly useful contributions from Michael Robertson (17) and Jack Tidey (13). With 7 balls left Tidey and Smith had moved the score onto 220-8. However, Tidey was then adjudged LBW and last man Rupert Martin entered the fray. A dot ball would have left Smith on strike for the last over needing 4 to win, but Martin looked for a big drive which looped over cover for 1 run. This put Martin on strike for the last over with Smith watching on helplessly at the other end on 70 not out. Hearts were in mouths as the last over began and even more so when Martin went for it sending a drive sailing alarmingly close to deepish mid off, however he had hit it well and the fielder couldn’t reach the ball cleanly and it went with a deflection racing to the boundary. Fortune had favoured the brave!
The Reed players erupted into celebration with a massive 30 points secured that puts them clear in 4th place still one point behind 3rd place with 5 games left.
