With 2nd place in the SHCL Herts Championship League secured the previous week, Reed found themselves in dire selection straits with 5 of their regular 1st Xl either injured or absent on holiday. With Reed 2nd Xl seeking to win their own league the Club Selectors decision was taken to top up the 1st Xl team for this weeks with 5 players from Reeds normal 3rd Xl. The composite Reed 1st Xl team, missing all 3 of their normal opening bowlers, and several top batsmen, travelled to play 3rd placed Totteridge Millhillians skippered by former England Test Star John Emburey.
Totteridge won the toss and invited Reed to bat first. Will Heslam went cheaply but then Sam Fairbrother and Chris Jackson took the score along at a good pace before Fairbrother fell stumped for 30, and soon after Jackson departed caught for 34. Reed limped from 96-3 to stand at 128-6 with all the 1st Xl regulars dismissed and a low total threatening. However, the elevated Reed players came to the fore and all made significant contributions to the Reed cause. 17-year-old Reece Fitzgerald led the way with a marvelous innings of 40 and was well supported by fellow promising youngster Jack Caine who made 18. Michael Robertson struck a swashbuckling 27 not out and the Reed tail certainly wagged pushing the score to a respectable 237 all out in 44.6 of the 50 overs available to them.
Reeds stand in seam bowlers bowled respectably but Totteridge’s reply got off to a good start, the score passing 50 without loss. Skipper Tom Greaves bowled a miserly spell of 10 overs 1-26 but it was batting hero Reece Fitzgerald who demonstrated his all-round talents taking the 1st wicket by trapping opener Bhimjiyani for 19 with the score 65-1. Totteridge slipped to 120-4 with Sam Fairbrother snaffling 2 wickets and Greaves the other. Number 4 Selwood was constructing a significant innings but around him others in the Totteridge line up proved less resilient. 144-5 became 166-7 as Fairbrother took his 3rd wicket and Fitzgerald did likewise returning a magnificent 3-39 from his 10 overs. Selwood had passed his half century and was still a danger and in company with John Emburey took the home sides score to 198-7 before Michael Robertson bowled Emburey for 8. Overs and wickets were beginning to run out for Totteridge and in other drama, spectating, injured, Reed Skipper James H eslam had to come on to the field as a “Sub” to replace the injured Jack Caine, whilst Sean Tidey handed the keeping gloves to Chris Jackson so that he could contribute to the bowling effort.
Good work in the field by Rupert Martin saw Wray run out and the Totteridge innings fading at 201-9. However, Selwood was still at the crease and seeking to get his side over the win line. A short rain interruption had meant that the Totteridge win target was adjusted under the Duckworth Lewis method down to 231. The final over of the match arrived with Totteridge needing 14 to win with 1 wicket in hand. Normal Reed keeper Sean Tidey took the ball for the final over and bowled a very respectable 6 balls, conceding just 8 runs. Selwood struck the last ball of the match for 6 to take his own contribution to a fine 88 not out but it was too little too late and Reed won the match by 5 runs, led to victory by the contributions of determined players almost half of whom rarely play at that level of Cricket. A magnificent team effort by everyone in a Reed shirt.
