Reeds National Village Cup dreams are over, for another year at least, after the forced replay of their National Village Cup Quarter Final saw them narrowly beaten by last years semi-finalists Dinton CC by 33 runs in a hard fought encounter in Buckinghamshire. 7 days earlier Reed had been in an excellent position to win the match and go through to the Cup Semi-Final. On a good batting wicket and fast outfield at Reed they had bowled and fielded in exemplary manner and had dismissed Dinton for just 168. At 4-0 with 39.5 overs remaining to score the 165 required for victory the skies had opened and a huge localised thunderstorm then washed out the match! The return match at Dinton on Sunday proved very different. On a bone dry ground and lightening outfield Dinton won the toss and again batted first. Smith and Massey got them off to a flying start with 52-0 registered in the first 8 overs and a massive score looming. However, Jack Tidey settled into a steady groove and first change bowler Tom Greaves also put the brakes on the scoring. Reed had to wait until the 15th over for the 1st wicket when Sean Tidey caught Massey for 42 off brother Jacks bowling. 2 relatively quick wickets followed as Dinton slid to 87 for 3 at the halfway 20 over mark. When Toby Fynn bowled Smith for 37 in the first over after drinks Dinton had slumped to 88-4 off 21 overs and Reed sensed the game was in their grasp. However, the last 18 overs of the match saw a dramatic swing in fortunes. Woodward and Roberts began to put together what proved to be a match winning [...]

Reeds National Village Cup dreams were dampened late on Sunday afternoon when their National Quarter Final match with Buckinghamshire Champions Dinton CC was cruelly washed away by one of the fiercest downpours seen at Reed in many a long year. The match had reached the halfway point on a warm and mainly sunny afternoon but as the players enjoyed a sumptuous traditional Cricket Tea in the Reed Pavilion the sky darkened and menacing storm clouds gathered. Batting second Reeds reply did start but as Reed skipper James Heslam smoothly struck the first ball to the mid wicket boundary for 4 the rain started and the players and Umpires fled the field, unfortunately never to return to bowl another ball! Earlier, with the magnificent Reed ground looking an absolute picture, a crowd of around 350 had witnessed a hard fought and high quality encounter. Dinton having won the toss chose to bat first and their openers exhibited a calm confidence and played some fluent strokes. The Reed opening attack of Jack Tidey and Toby Fynn however stuck to their task and supported by the usual incredibly efficient Reed ground fielding runs were hard to come by. In the 6th Over Toby Fynn induced an outside edge from opener Woodward and Sean Tidey snaffled the catch 11-1. In Fynns next over No 3 Gibbins was bowled for 4 and when his replacement Massey was also caught behind, by Tidey, Dinton were in trouble at 27-3 off 11.2 overs. Meanwhile opener Smith had looked solid and assured and joined by No 5 Burrows the pair started constructing a solid recovery. At the 20 over halfway mark in the visitors innings the score stood at 74–3, honours now fairly [...]