Herts and Beds champions Reed crashed out of the 2016 National Village Cup on Sunday losing off the last ball of their match against Kent Champions Sibton Park. 7 Wickets down and needing just a single off the last ball to clinch the win, Reed batsman Karl Ward struck the ball into the covers but his despairing charge to achieve the required run was foiled by good Sibton fielding and the stumps were broken with Ward an agonising 2 yards short of completing the run, and the win for Reed!
After a delayed start because of rain, things had started well for Reed as they won the toss and asked the men of Kent to bat first. Toby Fynn and Ward opened the bowling and both extracted some movement from the pitch in the early overs, but belligerent Sibton opener Bingham struck out lustily from the start and rode his luck being dropped twice off difficult hard hit chances in between a succession of boundaries. Opener Hickmott went for 10 with the score 53 in the 12th over. It was here that Reeds luck ran out and controversy raged as Sibton No 3 Allon, on 0 at the time, survived a very confident Reed shout for caught behind. which was not supported by the visiting Umpire. The game moved on and two runs later the dangerous Bingham was well caught in the deep by Toby Fynn off Tom Greaves for a hard hit 40.
The Sibton Innings then lost its momentum as Greaves (9 Overs 1 – 37) and Ward (9 Overs 1-25) bowled tight spells and at the halfway mark the visitors score was poised at 82-2 off 20 overs. The Reed pressure was maintained and when Woodward went for 17, bowled by Reece Fitzgerald with the score on 97, the visitors slid to 113-4 and then 120-5 where Mitchell Cooper took the first of what proved to be a 5 wicket haul. However, the fortunate Allon was getting into his stride and holding the faltering Sibton innings together. Cooper (6 Overs 5-39) clean bowled 2 victims and Sibton slumped to 150-7 and with overs running out. Allon then opened up and forced the pace until finally falling caught by Greaves for 78 as the visitors totalled what ought to have been an attainable total of 185-9 in their full 40 overs.
With the ground now bathed in hot sunshine, and in front of a good-sized expectant crowd, Reed set about the task of chasing down the total. James Heslam fell caught at slip for 7 with the score on 16 but younger brother William (scorer of a century the day before against Stevenage) was again in imposing form. Joined by the very competent Richard Wharton the pair started to build a healthy partnership and looked in little trouble. However, having put on 60, and with the score on 72-1, Wharton mistimed a straight drive and fell caught for 30. Skipper Greaves came and went for a duck and with the halfway point approaching Sibton had found a second wind and started to exert some pressure on the Reed middle order. The experience of the holidaying Chris Jackson proved to be sorely missed but Village Cup veteran Stuart Smith joined the younger Heslam and they steadily restored Reeds momentum with Heslam passing his 50 and playing with skill and confidence. The pair took the total to 141-3 and just 45 needed to win with 7 wickets in hand!
However, another twist in the game as Heslam went out of his ground and was stumped for a fine 64. Sean Tidey came to the crease and soon hit a massive 6 but was then bowled for 12 with the score 155-6. 30 to win in 4 overs with Smith now controlling the play and forcing sufficient boundaries and quick singles to keep Reed well in the match. Smith struck an important straight 6 but Marcus Martin came and went for 6, and Mitchell Cooper was caught for 4! 171-7 and Reed in trouble needing 15 to win outright in under 3 overs. Karl Ward joined the tenacious Smith but in a tense and exciting finish the necessary elusive boundary could not be found. Runs came in ones and two’s and Reed got ever nearer to their target. Needing 7 off the last over it eventually came down to Reed needing 1 run off the last ball to tie the scores and for the home team to win on less wickets lost.
It was however, not to be!
Stuart Smith ended the Reed innings on 44 not out, a tremendous gutsy effort to force the win, and Karl Ward did well with Smith to get us up to the line but unfortunately not quite over it!
A tremendous game of Cricket, and one that will be talked about by both sides for years to come!
Report submitted by JQH.
