Our old friends and rivals Knebworth Blue were our guest at the Green for the annual match which usually proves to be a fruitful day for the batsman. This match however proved to be slightly different as a strong Reed team dominated most of the game.
Having won the toss and electing to insert the opposition, Reed captain Marcus J.E. Baker started with an attacking field for opening bowler Jack Childs. Coming up the hill, Childs soon claimed the first of the day when an edge carried to third slip for the waiting hands of fellow opener Matt Giblin. Reed continued to attack as three more wickets fell for few runs thanks to a wicket for Giblin and a catch followed by a run out from Jack Tidey. Giblin delivered his usual accurate seam and bowled his full eight over quota finishing with 1 for 37.
At the crease for the visitors was the left handed Stroud and their dangerous captain Dave Saunders. Containing them was crucial in the middle overs which was done with some success by Joe Graves, M.J.E. Baker (3-1-9-0) and Jack Tidey (2-1-2-1) who removed Saunders for 48. Reed soon took advantage and took further wickets from Graves (27-1) and a returning Jack Childs (23-3) who had a fantastic game and showed what great ability he has. The final overs were in the hands of Owen Hughes, who always gives little for batsman. He bowled 5 overs for just 2 as well as the LBW wicket of Stroud for 36.
Knebworth Blues final total of 180 for 8 was well below par as the Reed batsman set about the task of chasing them. Jack Tidey and M.J.E. Baker showed what kind of batting track it was making a quick fire 100 run partnership in just 10 overs Tidey in particular looking in awe inspiring form. Both Tidey (68) and Baker (33) retired to make way for Rhodri Hughes and Lloyd Bowman. For the new batsman to throw their wicket away in the pursuit of glory would have been foolhardy and the fact that both played with due diligence is testament to the pairs temperaments. Both waited for the bad balls and duly put them away to the boundary. Bowman was sadly lost for 13 but R. Hughes continued and started to show some class and confidence in his footwork and shot selection. Matt Bowles was now also making impressive runs. Hughes and Bowles (15*) had all but gotten over the line when Rhodri picked out mid-off for 40 solid runs. It was left for younger brother Owen Hughes (4*) to pull the winning runs making Reed winners by 8 wickets.
