On a sunny but windy evening Reed travelled to local rivals Foxton aiming to re-establish local ‘bragging rights’ after a disappointing defat to their “noisy neighbours” in last year’s competition. Reed’s captain Mitchell Cooper won the toss and decided to bat, on what was a very green but hard wicket. Reed’s openers Will Heslam and Sean Tidey looked to build on their recent success. Tidey started positively hitting Lowmass (4-3-35) for 11 off the first over. However, after his brilliant knocks at the weekend Heslam fell to Gabrial (1-1-13) with the very first ball of the second over.
A short ball that should have ended up over the Foxton pavilion, only found the hands of A. Cambridge at short mid – wicket. This brought Fergus Martin to the crease, after playing a lot of cricket at university Martin looked in good form playing some lovely shots. It was obvious it was going to take something special to remove the Reed batsman and Lowmass produced just that in the 4th over, a delivery that swung away and cut back off the green service, clipped the off stump dismissing Martin for 6. But this was not good news for Foxton as Reed’s overseas player Sam Fairbrother strode to the crease.
Fairbrother had struggled for runs in the early part of his Reed CC career but is starting to adjust to conditions and find some form in more recent times. Tidey and Fairbrother decided to take the attack to the home side and a combination of good running and big hitting kept the scoreboard ticking over at a very good rate. Both batsmen made well deserved half centuries before Fairbrother 50 and Tidey 72 both fell to Lowmass in the 14th over. A couple more quick wickets and some big hitting from Captain Cooper (16* not out) meant Reed finished on 157-6.
This seemed a very good score on a wicket which offered a bit of assistance to the bowlers however, with the Foxton batting line – up containing some familiar faces and not surprisingly some un-familiar faces Reed’s bowlers knew they would have to bowl well to get the victory. Schew and Hunter opened the batting for Foxton and knew they had to score quickly right from the start. Reed had a plan to take the pace off the ball and decided to open the bowling with Tom ‘Buckaroo’ Greaves and Karl ‘Mr Wickets’ Ward.
Both kept it tight and Ward lived up to his name, finishing with figures of (4-3-37) and Greaves (2-0-19). Cooper used his bowlers well and brought Toby Fynn (3-2-19) and Jack Tidey (3-2-15) in to the attack. Foxton struggled with the pace and bounce of the two Saturday first team opening bowlers and it was only Sanderson 28 and Fagan 46 who offered any real resistance. The ever impressive Jack Cain also came into the attack and finished with (2.5-2-15) which included the important wicket of Fagan. Reeds fielding wasn’t up to its usual high standard and disappointingly some catches were dropped but Tom Greaves made no mistake when Fagan picked him out on the long-on boundary.
The catch sealed victory for Reed and Foxton were all out for a respectable 108. Cooper commented after the game “Well you know, we always knew it was going to be a hard game at Foxton and to come here and win convincingly after what happened last year is very pleasing”. Reed look forward to another tough game against Thriplow in the same competition at Home on Tuesday 17th June. The game starts at 6:15 at The Green.
