Reed Seconds made the journey to St Albans for the last match of May. Once again availability was poor throughout the club and so the second eleven were giving several players a great opportunity to prove themselves at the slightly higher standard.
In the presence of the large, classic pavilion, a throw back to the ‘Golden Era’, Marcus Martin won the toss and decided to bat. Despite a great looking batting track Reed really struggled against the opening bowlers of A. Button and R. O’Toole. Both bowlers were getting the ball to move and table-topping Reed were being humbled by their hosts. Slumping to a disastrous 30 for 5 Reed were in real peril. However, St Albans captain R. O’Toole was forced to take himself off due to a strain as well as A. Button due to age restrictions.
This moment proved to be the crucial one of the match. The pressure was immediately lifted as the young first change bowlers struggled to find the right line as wides started to come thick and fast, with extras becoming top scorer. Martin and number 7 Matt Bowles worked hard to save the situation for Reed. Putting on 50 for the 6th wicket when Martin (21) fell. Karl Ward replacing him played some fluid shots early on and he and Bowles continued to fight back adding 56. With each run Reed gained some confidence as they gradually made a total to defend.
A single loss of concentration cost Bowles his wicket but his superb innings of 32 was the backbone of the visitors’ score. Ward then worked with the tail and in the process reminded everyone of his true all-round abilities with a timely 55. It was by no means a lone effort as Peter and Tim Tidey chipped in, not to mention the impressive all-rounder Owen Hughes (14). At 30 for 5 a final score of 195 seemed impossible but none the less that was the target Reed set thanks to the talent and depth of the Reed order.
Ward had little time to rest as he opened the bowling with Pete Tidey. Reed knew the momentum was firmly with them and did not intend to let it go. Applying pressure right from the start it did not take long for 2 wickets to fall. Wickets then proceeded to come at regular intervals falling to Tidey (2-25), Ward (2-20), Martin (2-35), Bowles (1-17) and George Garrott (1-34). St Albans also helped the Reed cause with two run outs from Ward. These two wickets can be attributed to the pressure created by Reed and in particular the fantastic bowling of Hughes who only conceded 13 runs from his seven overs.
St Albans had one last throw of the dice with the partnership of A. Khan and O’Toole. But with Matt Bowles pulling off a near impossible catch to remove Khan, the match was all but done. A visibly disappointed O’Toole was the last man out as his side fell 44 runs short as Reed fought back from 30 for 5 to pull off a true team victory.
Report submitted by MJEB.
