Reed 2nds finished their season on a high, defeating already promoted Hoddesdon 2nds by 5 wickets at The Green to seal 4th place.
In what was his final game of regular league cricket, club legend Peter Tidey showed why the team will miss his reliable opening spells as he took 2 top order wickets for figures of 10-0-27-2. George Garrott (6-1-21-2) & Karl Ward (7-1-28-1) also bowled well as Reed tore into Hoddesdon’s top order. Mitch Cooper also bowled.
More success was to follow for Reed as off-break bowler Matt Bowles (4.3-1-11-5) was introduced into the attack and spun the ball alarmingly on his way to a 5 wicket hall, including wrapping up the “Hoddy” innings with a rarely seen hat-trick. The visitors bundled out for what looked a well below par 104.
Reed’s reply started badly as first skipper Frenay (4) then the in-form duo of Sampson (1) and Barlow (15) departed leaving Reed 22-3. When Martin (6) and Cooper (11) also fell to rash shots, Reed looked in real trouble at 46-5.
However the patient Ed Garrott (33 not out) and the in-form Ward (24 not out) steered Reed home untroubled from there, showing maturity and class. Reed getting home to win by 5 wickets, on what was a fitting send off for arguably the greatest bowler in Reed CC history – Peter Tidey.
Report submitted by “Mattrick” Bowles.
