After Saturdays comprehensive win produced a seasons “double” over Knebworth Park CC, Reed find themselves guaranteed of finishing in 2nd position in the Saracens Herts Cricket League Championship Division. Table topping Hertford are assured of the title whilst Reed are 84 Points clear of 3rd Club Flitwick with just 2 League matches left to play.
This position means that Reed, as League Runner Up are assured of the “Play Off” position and so on Saturday 6th September they will play at Home against the 2nd bottom side in the Herts Premier League with the prize being a 2015 Season Herts Premier League position. At the present moment this match seems likely to be against Sawbridgeworth CC or Letchworth CC.
A move into the Herts Premier League would cap a memorial rise for Reed from a mid division Herts Village Cricket Club to playing in the very highest recreational Cricket League available to them, competing with the very best of the major town teams in Hertfordshire Cricket. To this can be added Reed’s National Village Cup win at Lords in 2012 and all this achieved with a side comprising mainly youngsters who have grown up through the Clubs junior ranks.
Against Knebworth Reed skipper James Heslam won the toss and had no hesitation in asking the visitors to bat first. Injuries have ravaged the Reed bowling ranks in recent weeks and Saturday saw ageing Reed stalwart Peter Tidey recalled to 1st Xl duty well into his 50’s and clearly the “Father of the side”! Opening the bowling with 18-year-old Tom Walsingham Tidey bowled a very respectable spell of 10 Overs 1-26 whilst Walsingham returned 2-28 from his 10 Overs. Reed had Knebworth on the ropes at 52 for 5 but No 5 Leather got his head down and in company with Chapman (26) took the score past the 100 mark. However the steady Reed bowling and sharp as ever fielding kept the pressure on Knebworth and with Leather dismissed for 52 the visitors could muster only 158 all out in 48.2 of their 50 Overs. Will Heslam secured a key Run Out, James Heslam took 2 fine catches and Alex Mutacumarama returned the best bowling figures of 3-28, with Sam Fairbrothers 2-25 also noteworthy.
Reed realised that a win would assure them of their guaranteed Runners Up slot and approached the chase for the 159 required in determined fashion. Will Heslam and Sam Fairbrother got the home side off to a good start putting 30 on the board in the first 5 overs but then both fell LBW within the space of a few balls and with 2 new batsmen at the crease the Reed innings had to rebuild. Skipper James Heslam was determined that there should be no repeat of last weeks batting collapse and determined to anchor the innings and see off Knebworth’s acknowledged danger men bowlers in Patel and Randall. Whilst Heslam showed the bowlers abroad blade Alex Mutacumarama indulged in some more forceful strokeplay. The pair put on 68 taking Reed to 103-2 before Mutacumarama fell, again LBW, for a fine 48. With Reed needing just 56 more to win, and the platform for victory having been established, Tom Greaves strode to the crease and immediately started to play some attractive attacking strokes. Heslam went stumped for a hard fought 14 off the dangerous Patel who ended with 3-24 off his 10 overs, and with the other Knebworth danger man Randall having been kept out (10 Overs 1 -15) Reeds victory seemed assured. Greaves with a fine 42* stepped up the Reed scoring rate and accompanied by Chris Jackson 9* saw Reed comfortably to the 159 required for the loss of just 4 wickets in 37.2 overs. A fine 6 wicket win with more than 12 overs to spare.
