Reed 1st XI got their Championship campaign off to a winning start away at Shenley Village. Reed are expecting a hard fought campaign with a number of sides busy with signings over the winter but hope to mount a serious challenge again as they did last season.
Presented with a wicket impacted a little by the recent cool and wet weather and in overcast conditions Reed captain James Heslam was disappointed to lose the toss and be put into bat but the notoriously good Shenley wicket still looked decent and spirits were high.
Unfortunately the innings got off to the worst possible start when Sean Tidey was run out off the first ball. However, new signing Rich Wharton looked immediately at home and up for the fight. Wharton and Heslam (15) steadied the ship and took the score along to 39-1 off 11 overs. However trying not to let the change bowler settle Heslam looked to go over the top and went caught. When Tom Greaves was out early Reed were suddenly in a spot of bother at 41-3. Nevertheless this brought the man for the situation to the crease Chris Jackson and he and Wharton settled things down nicely. By the time Wharton went for a well-made 55 the innings had recovered to 99-4 off 32 overs. Despite the recovery the innings was in need of acceleration and Alex Mutucamarana returning from a hamstring injury preventing him from playing in the pre-season immediately settled and scored freely. Mutucamarana and Jackson upped the rate and at 165-4 off 42 overs things looked a whole lot better for Reed. Although Mutucamarana then went for an excellent 40 off 30 balls, Mitchell Cooper (15), Phil Lill (9*) and Jack Tidey (8*) kept the momentum going with Jackson who was out 2 overs before the end for a superb and crucial 79. Reed ended up with 231-7 off their 50 overs which looked probably only just above a par score given the improving conditions but gave the Reed bowlers a lot more to work with than it seemed a long way through the innings.
Although the first 3 overs went for 25 for no loss, after this Reed showed last seasons quality with the new ball as Tom Walsingham (10-1-32) and inparticular the prolific Jack Tidey (10-3-33) bowled well. Toby Fynn (9.3-3-45) provided captain Heslam with the luxury of his opening bowler for much of last season coming on 1st change and made a significant impact taking two early wickets including that of 1st class New Zealand batsman Tom Bruce. Shenley were reduced to 62-6 and the game looked all but won for Reed. However, the pitch was now a decent batting wicket, the outfield faster and with the ball a little older the lower middle order of Shenley batted well and began to give themselves some hope in the game. Nevertheless, the introduction of Herts stags spinner Greaves and overseas signing Phil Lill (10-2-34) proved critical as they managed to keep a good hold on proceedings and use up some overs quickly. This kept Shenley nicely behind the rate and eventually the pressure told with Lill taking two classy wickets leaving Shenley 165-8 off 45 overs. Walsingham and Fynn returned to mop up the tail and the match with Shenley 189 all out in 49 overs.
A well-earned 30 points and real team effort by Reed to start the season. Next up is West Herts at Home on Saturday and the Herts quarter final of the NVC also at home on the Sunday.
