Reed Sunday XI versus Hertford CC at Reed on Sunday 3rd July 2016.
The sun shone on a warm Sunday afternoon at the Green when Hertford were asked to bowl first by Reed skipper, Rob Lankester. Extended to a 45-overs per side match, the Sunday XI openers negated that extra time by managing to score only 33 for 2 in the first 13 overs. Thereafter, the Braughing duo of Lankester and Tom Walsingham made hay whilst adding 136 for the 3rd wicket. Walsingham had scored 56 when he fell to Roger Kent in his second spell who eventually returned figures of 2 for 11 from 9 miserly overs. Meanwhile, the impressive Lankester continued to rack-up the boundaries. In one over he hit three sixes over straight-ish mid-on going from 87 to 105 them immediately retired. A completely unflustered innings followed by an unselfishly mature act from someone still at school. This left the stage set for Joe Graves and Owen Hughes to put-on an unbroken 77 in the final 9 overs when the Reed innings closed on 290 for 5. Graves made 44 and Hughes 33.
After the usual sumptuous tea, Hertford’s opening pair of Stuart Barker and Max Lawrence demonstrated how easy-going the Reed pitch was and maintained a run-rate of 6.5 an over as they passed 200 in the 31st over. The introduction of Tom Walsingham with his re-modelled action at the Village Hall end had an immediate effect. Enticing Barker into leaving a non-turner that took middle and off, the left-hander departed for a super 125. Lankester then attacked from the pavilion end and the tiring Lawrence, (who had already played a Herts Colts match that morning), was bowled for a controlled 82; an inning full of drives and clips through mid-wicket. Then, falling behind the rate, Hertford lost more wickets in a flurry. Captain Eric Riddle batting at number six, attempted to guide his side closer to the target. By this time however, the Braughing boys were in their stride and at the end of their 45 overs, the visitors had scored 286 for 8. Riddle was 31 not out, but Walsingham had taken 4 for 32 and Lankester 3 for 35 (as well as completing a run-out), as Reed won by a mere 4 runs with the sun lowering towards the western horizon.
Report submitted by Peter G. Baker.
