August 2014 - Page 2 of 2 - Reed Cricket Club

Rice and Emes put Woodcutters in a spin

With July making way for August Reed were looking for a Sunday win which had eluded them for the last few weeks. Reed hosted Woodcutters at the Green with captain Marcus J.E. Baker having no doubts about batting first having won the toss. This confident call was soon questioned as both of Reeds openers played on in the first two overs without scoring. Baker joined number 3 Fergus Martin at the wicket and the pair started the innings again. Both played freely and scored clean, precise shots making a partnership of fifty without much difficulty. However, just as Reed seemed to be stabilising things 3 wickets fell in quick succession including Martin (23) and Baker (28), leaving Reed struggling on 78 for 5. A partnership was very much called for and one was provided by Ben Moody and Jack Tidey, both showing their abilities as all-rounders. A controlled innings by Tidey, who took the lead, was supported fantastically by Moody. Both waited for the bad ball with patience and put pressure on the opposition with outstanding running. This running was best displayed in an all run 5 without any over throws, a superb feat. In 17 overs they added 113 runs when Moody fell for 41 just short of what would have been a well deserved maiden 50. Owen Hughes chipped in 7 but sacrificed his wicket for the cause looking for quick runs whilst Tidey closed in on three figures. Needing 11 from the last over he was only able to get one maximum away as Reed finished with a total of 229 for 7. Tidey’s 95 not out being a great demonstration of sensible batting. After teas Hughes once again opened coming down [...]

Maiden ton for Kieran Willoughby in exciting draw!

Once more, Reed’s skipper, Peter Baker, loss the toss and after some lengthy deliberation by his counterpart, Andy Page, Reed were invited to bat first. With 47 overs at their disposal, this was approached with confidence, but there was a setback when the potentially sound Rhodri Hughes somehow managed to inside edge a delivery from young Ben Guest into his wicket. Kieran Willoughby was the number 3 and then added 78 with Baker for the second wicket. Runs were not easy to score on a pitch of very low bounce where each straight delivery had to be negotiated as if it was a wicket-taking ball. Baker departed for a sedate 37 to the first delivery he faced from the off-spin of Charlotte Page. Sam Rice, who has been batting with confidence in recent matches thus deserving promotion up the order, came to the wicket to join Willoughby. Their partnership for the third wicket produced 93 runs of which Rice contributed 35 which was his highest score in this format of cricket match. By this time, Willoughby was closing-in to his own personal milestone of a century. His season had started with a series of ducks interrupted by his maiden fifty only a month ago. This time, with the very helpful support of Ben Moody, 8 not out, Willoughby reached his first ever “ton” and when the Reed innings closed on 209 for 3, he had scored a gritty and deserved 100 not out which included 17 fours. A great effort. Hitchin’s side contained some talented young batsmen, but it was important for their main player to remain at the crease. Elliott Austin scored 20 and was the first wicket to fall, but fellow opener, Peter [...]