Reed 1st XI versus Bledlow Village at Bledlow on Sunday 23rd July 2017.
Quarter-Final, National Village Cup.
A shadow of gloom descended over the large contingent of travelling Reed supporters when they saw William Heslam and Rob Lankester dismissed early leaving the visitors 17 for 2 in this Quarter-Final match of the National Village Cup. Steadily, Richard Wharton (33) and James Heslam progressed to 69 for 2 at the halfway stage of 20 overs. Bledlow’s opening bowlers, David Pearce (2 for 20) and Matt Pearce (0 for 29) then Mark King in his first spell asked the batsmen probing questions and skipper, Thomas Moore’s field placings were paramount in keeping a tight rein on proceedings. Wharton departed soon after which brought in Sean Tidey at number 5 when the score was 75 for 3. Without any preamble he simply went for his shots and was into double figures within minutes. With each stroke being cheered, the two Reed batsmen pushed the fielders around the compact Buckinghamshire ground which is bordered on one side by the Chinnor & Princes Riseborough Steam Railway at the foot of the Chilterns. Passengers on the slowing steam trains were frequently entertained as Heslam and Tidey built their partnership. Although given a 24-run start, it was Tidey who reached his fifty first and the stand continued to 105 runs when James Heslam was caught and bowled by Hawkes (3 for 38) for a confident 55 which included 2 fours and 2 sixes. By this time, Sean Tidey was into the seventies but he too soon departed after he miscued Goodchild (2 for 21) and presented Moore with a well-taken skyer. Tidey had bludgeoned 5 fours and 6 sixes in his 75 in an innings lasting just 44 deliveries. But a tumble of wickets saw Reed go from 180 for 3 to 188 for 8 in just a few overs looking as if the hosts may have an easy task after all. Enter Karl Ward, Reed’s unsung saviour in many past Cup campaigns. In a cameo of 26 runs lasting only 9 deliveries, he spanked 3 sixes and a four taking the score to 218 for 9. Jack Tidey hit a massive six of his own before the innings closed at 227 for 9. Between them, Reed’s batsmen had scored 12 fours and smote 13 sixes into the surrounding cornfields.
Although the threat of rain had been present most of the afternoon, the Reed innings was played mostly in warm sunshine. The weather forecasters were constantly checking the internet and reports from the Royston area were that it was pouring at home. But during the tea interval, the rain clouds gathered and the calculators were now evident. To constitute a game, 20 overs would need to have been bowled in the second innings. In that time, Bledlow would have needed 114 to overhaul Reed’s run-rate of 5.675. Immediately, Bledlow were put on the back foot as Mitchell Cooper removed Bolton for 5 thanks to an excellent stumping by Richard Wharton. Wharton was involved in the dismissal of Woodward adjudged caught behind when Reed had originally appealed for LBW! This was the first of Jack Tidey’s wickets, and in a spell of 7 overs, “Big Jack” devastated Bledlow’s top- and middle-order hitting the stumps four times and returning figures of 5 for 21. Smart thinking by Reed captain, Tom Greaves, when a few raindrops were in the air, saw Cooper replaced by Sean Tidey and Greaves himself taking over from Jack Tidey. Rushing through their overs, giving the batsmen no respite, the crucial phase of 20 overs was passed with Bledlow well adrift of the necessary run-rate. Their high-scoring number 3, Harry Bartlett, (who had scored 140 in the last round), fell to a well-judged running catch at long-off by Stuart Smith off the younger Tidey. Rain then did call a halt after 22 overs, but Reed were safe by that time. After the resumption, Greaves picked-up more wickets to finish on 3 for 25 resulting in Bledlow Village being dispatched for 85 in the 27th over. Reed had won by 142 runs. Despite their local knowledge of the ground, Bledlow Village had managed only 5 fours and 1 six totalling 26 runs in boundaries. Reed’s boundary tally was 126.
Meanwhile, about 5 miles away, over the border into Oxfordshire, Aston Rowant overcame Ynystawe from Wales in their Quarter-Final of the Village Cup. Consequently, Reed will be at home to Aston Rowant in the Semi-Final, on Sunday 6th August starting at 1 o’clock, just one victory away from an appearance in the Final at Lord’s Cricket Ground.
Report submitted by PGB.
