2012 National Village Cricket Cup Champions Reed moved to within 3 more wins of a repeat Cup Final appearance at the home of Cricket with a tumultuous 5 wicket victory over Kent Area Champions Sibton Park at Reed on Sunday. Reed were led to victory by a tremendous unbeaten century from Club Captain James Heslam who scored 108* from just 105 balls as Reed chased down the 174 required for victory for the loss of just 5 wickets with 5 overs to spare.
On a gloriously sunny day at Reed, in front of a good crowd, the visitors Sibton Park won the toss and elected to bat. On the well renowned batting friendly Reed wicket this soon looked a good toss to win as the visitors comfortably accumulated 60 without loss in the first 15 overs with openers Bishop 33 and Allon being punishing with any loose deliveries received. The Reed fielding was up to its usual high standards but chances were not being offered and a wicket for Reed looked far away. At this stage the only bowler restricting the visitors was spinner Tom Greaves who was in the early stages of bowling a magnificent spell of 9 overs 2-9. However, it was Mitchell Cooper who made the breakthrough for Reed dismissing threatening opener Bishop for 33 and the 3 balls later dismissing No 3 Dunham for a duck. This shock loss of wickets, accompanied by superb Reed fielding drove Sibton Park back into their shell. The next 10 overs produced only 25 runs and the Reed pressure told as T om Greaves took reward for his miserly spell taking the wickets of Hickmott for 4 and opener Allon for 46 . 90-4 became 102-6 as Karl Ward and Jack Tidey got amongst the wickets. Wren 46 led a Sibton counter offensive but the visitors could never break the Reed stranglehold as the home teams bowlers and fielders restricted their opponents to just 173 all out off the last ball of their 40 Over innings. Mitchell Cooper finished with 9 Overs 2 – 40 and Kallum Ward 2 Overs 2 -10.
Reeds reply got off to a disastrous start when the Heslam brothers suffered a mix up in communication and Will fell narrowly run out for 0. Elder brother James then focussed on the job in hand and in company with Tom Greaves put together a superb partnership of 63 which put Reed well on the way to a probable win. However Greaves fell for 26 when looking comfortably set with the Reed score on 69-2. James Heslam was however in imperious form and striking the ball powerfully to all parts of the ground. Chris Jackson came and went for 10 and Stuart Smith contributed 1 to a 25 run partnership with the rampant Heslam before being adjudged LBW. Sean Tidey added a brisk 13 as the Reed total passed the 150 mark and victory beckoned. Tidey went bowled but Heslam passed his 100 with a magnificent back foot drive through the covers for 4 and the writing was on the wall for Sibton Park.
A few runs later Kallum Ward smacked a 4 taking Reed to 174 for 5 and skipper Heslam walked off the field unbeaten on 108*, an innings comprising 17 x 4’s and a 6, having led his team to a deserved, commanding and ultimately comfortable victory.
Reed now play East of England Winners Worlington of Suffolk, away in their last 16 match on Sunday 6th July.
