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 partnership. With Jack Tidey 9 overs 2-25 and Tom Greaves 9 overs 1-36 now “bowled out” Reed skipper James Heslam, in an attempt to keep the pace off the ball, made the brave call of instructing Sean Tidey to take off the pads to bowl his slow off breaks – this for the first time in a senior Reed match! Stuart Smith took over the gloves. This proved a relatively successful ploy with Sean bowling his first 6 overs for just 34, regrettably his 7th over went for 17! Unfortunately Woodward and Roberts got into full flow as the Dinton overs began to run out. A series of hard hit boundaries saw both batsmen reach 50’s as the Reed seam bowlers toiled in the hot sun. At 30 Overs Dinton were 131 for 4 but carnage followed in the last 10 as the batsmen struck out powerfully and the home team added 114 in those 10 overs. Wickets did fall, Woodward went for 50 and Roberts was 7th out, for a devastating 87, in the 39th over. Toby Fynn ended with 9 overs 3-70 but the final Dinton total of 248 for 8 was a daunting target to chase down on a large ground in just 40 overs.
Reed approached the task determined to give it their best shot but seemingly somewhat intimidated by the large total. Seam Tidey was promoted up the batting order, a ploy that had proved successful in some previous matches. However his partner skipper James Heslam fell to an uncharacteristically loose shot in the 2nd over and Reeds uphill task had become even more steep. Will Heslam and Sean Tidey steadied the ship taking the score to 42 in the 8th over before Heslam was adjudged LBW for 13 a decision of such rapidity that Jesse James would have been proud! Sean Tidey was striking some solid boundaries and the Reed scoring rate was actually ahead of that of their opponents at this stage, however key batsman Tom Greaves was bowled for just 6, and Tidey followed soon after for 34 leaving Reed 71-4 after 13 overs. Chris Jackson and Stuart Smith then came together and started rebuilding the Reed innings. At 20 Overs Reed were 106-4, actually ahead of their opponents at the 20 overs mark. The pair were getting the Reed innings flowing but then in the 24th over with the score on 121 a poor run out decision adjudged the incredulous Smith to be run out for 13! Another body blow for Reed. Chris Jackson continued to act as a mainstay of the innings and in company with Jack Tidey took the score past 150. Dinton were fielding like demons and unfortunately for Reed many a hard struck shot found a fielder. Tidey went caught in the deep for 15 and then Kallum Ward came to the crease and kept up the momentum with some powerful shots. 29 overs gone, 11 to go, 94 needed with 5 wickets in hand. Then a calamitous over for Reed. Chis Jackson fell bowled for a gutsy 37 and then very next ball Marcus Martin pronounced LBW. 160 for 8 and Dinton clearly felt the match was virtually over. However, 3 overs later Ward and Mitchell Cooper had added 33 to the total with the 200 beckoning and 7 overs still to go. Ward was then forced to change his bat and the very next ball departed caught for 22! 9 wickets down – surely all over now – but no! Mitchell Cooper batting with last man Toby Fynn took the attack to Dinton. The pair were achieving the 8 an over required for a Reed win with Cooper cleverly farming the strike at the end of each over. Dinton were clearly now getting nervy, with Reed hoping to witness a miracle ending. 25 balls left and 33 required to win. Reed were still in with a chance. Then the final drama! Cooper struck a ball hard and high towards the wide long on boundary. It seemed a nailed on one bounce 4 but Dinton fielder Smith racing round from midwicket and diving low whilst on the run took a magnificent catch inches off the ground to see Cooper dismissed for a fine 31 and Dinton take the match by 33 runs.
A tie with a lot of “what ifs”, played by 2 well-balanced and competitive teams. Reed will feel they were hard done by in several respects, but on the final day their bowling was found wanting at times, and mercilessly punished. No single Reed batsman stayed at the crease long enough to make a 50+ and “get us over the line”. A chance of a 2nd Lords Final in 3 Years has slipped away – but time may tell that we went out to the competition winners.
