Reed 1st XI got back to winning ways and secured an important win vs West Herts on Saturday with an impressive and hard fought performance.
Given the torrential rain Thursday night it was no surprise when West Herts elected to bowl first and conditions weren’t easy for batting throughout the game and certainly early on. Reed got off to a slow but reasonably solid start of 22-0 off 9 overs before James Heslam went for just 7. However this brought Alex Mutucumarana to the crease who immediately added impetus which along with Will Heslam (32) who started to find the boundary took Reed nicely along to 70-1 off 25 overs. Although Heslam then fell stumped and Chris Jackson went in unfortunate circumstances for 9, Stuart Smith and Mutucumarana who hit 2 towering sixes took Reed along to 124-3 off 42 overs in a good position to accelerate. Unfortunately Mutucumarana went shortly after for an excellent 60 and with Cooper also a little unfortunate Reed needed more runs. This came in the form of Sean (18) and Jack Tidey (27) who with a combination of hitting into gaps and some lusty blows batted well with Smith (23) who had taken up the important anchor role. Reed innings came to a close at 196 all out in the 59th over.
West Herts had 56 overs to chase down the runs and Reed knew they would need to bowl and field extremely well. That is exactly what they did as the returning Jack Tidey (1-48) and Toby Fynn (3-41) both bowled superbly with pace and direction. Tidey was extremely unlucky not to have more wickets as the West Herts top order couldn’t live with both Reed openers and were reduced to 60-4 off 29 overs just after tea. However, a partnership did begin to develop between the dangerous Sanders and Marshall and at 90-4 the game was in the balance. At this point Heslam turned to the introduction of spinners Phil Lill and 16 year old Reece Fitzgerald who turned the game again in Reeds favour. Both bowled beautifully and with Reed playing with determination and intensity in the field the home side eventually subsided to 164 all out in the 53rd over with Reed picking up the crucial final wicket with a shell shocked West Herts seemingly about to begin to play for the draw. Lill recorded superb figures of 10.3-5-28 and Fitzgerald 11-1-42 bowling with skill and maturity well beyond his years.
An excellent game of cricket and win for Reed.
