Cricket Report: National Village Cup Competition. Herts and Beds Final.

Lord’s hopes dashed as Reed are knocked out of Village Cup in Area Final after last over drama.

Reed Cricket Club hosted Langleybury in the area final of The National Village Competition on Sunday June 14th 2015. Reed suffered from injuries and unavailability and gave a number of youngsters a chance to prove their worth in this important game in front of a good crowd.
Langleybury won the toss and chose to bat on a damp overcast day on a wicket that had been covered for the past two days. Runs were not easy to come by for Reed and they lost regular wickets after an opening partnership of 43 off eleven overs between James Heslam and Mitchell Cooper. In the next eleven overs Reed lost Cooper, Jackson, Greaves and Smith for 50 runs and looked to be in trouble. However the dangerous Sean Tidey joined James Heslam and scored 25 in a partnership of 28 with Heslam. However with the loss of Tidey and then Heslam for a fine 66 the Reed innings lost momentum and Reed were bowled out in 37.3 overs for 156 leaving Langleybury to chase a target thought to be at least 50 runs below par.
Tom Walsingham opened the bowling for Reed and was immediately successful, bowling Manzor for 3 and bowling his first 5 overs for only 8 runs. However, Amin and W.Oxley then settled and took the score to 73 for 1 after 17 overs. A Langleybury victory seemed a formality. Nevertheless, spinners Tom Greaves (9-0-28-1) and Reece Fitzgerald (9-0-29-2) then put the brakes on and Reed looked to be back in the hunt. Karl Ward (6.4-0-25-1) and Sean Tidey (3-0-12-2) then put Reed right back into the game and with 9 wickets down and 152 on the board Langleybury needed 5 off the last over. It was not to be Reed’s day as Knox (22 not out) and Stafford, hit the winning run with two balls to go having survived a very close run out chance in the process.
An excellent match, played in very good spirit saw Langleybury just over the line. Langleybury have reached the final at Lords once before but unlike Reed have not won it. Reed wish them the very best in the future rounds.

R.Robertson
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