Big spending Botany Bay got the better of Reed 1xi in a top of the table clash on Saturday.
Reed won the toss and elected to bowl with overcast conditions and a helpful looking wicket. Things were going to plan when rain stopped play at 22-1 after 7 overs thanks to a good wicket by Jack Tidey well held by Chris Jackson at 1st slip. However, the players were then unexpectedly off the pitch for over nearly two hours including an early tea. When play resumed the outfield was soaked making it difficult for the Reed bowlers to get much movement out of the ball. Botany Bay’s key batsman got themselves in and then began to cut loose with Reeds performance a little below par not helped by the conditions. Ex-Northants bastman Ben Howgego (110*) and Cambridgeshire batsman Paul Summerskill (70) did the damage and the Bay ended their reduced overs innings on 214-2 in 38 overs. Tidey (8-1-34) and Tom Walsingham (8-0-15) were the pick of the Reed bowlers on a difficult afternoon.
On a thick outfield the chase was always going to be tough for Reed. Sean Tidey and Mitchell Cooper opened with the hope of getting Reed off to a good start so the middle order could hopefully build on that momentum. This happened in part with Sean Tidey (20) hitting the first over for 20 but then he and Cooper (6) had departed by the 2nd over. James Heslam and Rich Wharton (14) looked to keep the momentum going whilst not lose any more wickets but things gradually became more difficult as the Botany Bay Bowlers bowled with good discipline and some movement. The game was in the balance at 50-2 after 9 overs when Greg Harris entered the bowling attack. From this point on the run rate dropped as Harris was on his way to amazing figures of 8-5-12 and Reed were 140 all out in 30 overs. The Reed chase gradually dissipated and only Heslam (38) and Greaves (18) really got going and that was never really looking match winning.
It was a game Reed didn’t get much luck and weren’t able to get through Botany Bay’s key players, on another day it could have been different but Reed know there are also things that can hopefully be improved on for the visit of Totteridge on Saturday who like Reed have 2 wins and 1 defeat so far this season.
