Reed fell just short in an entertaining Village Cup match at The Green on Sunday. Due to Reed’s promotion to the Herts Premier League, no first team players could be selected for this year’s competition despite Reed being the defending champions.
Having won the toss skipper Ed Garrott put the visitors into bat. Redbourn set off at a good pace punishing anything loose from the opening bowlers Julien Fynn (7-0-41-3) and Rupert Martin (6-0-34-0). Fynn trapped Ed Hales lbw for 32 (52-1). Cutler and Will Hales then set a 109 partnership which threatened to take the game away from Reed. A great piece of fielding from Garrott eventually ran out Hales. Another 50 run partnership was broken by Karl Ward (8-0-37-2) . A flurry of late wickets left Redbourn on 237-7 at the end of their 40 overs.
Reed set about the chase against the young Redbourn opening attack steadily, Rob Willoughby was the first to fall with the score on 28, Rich Barlow soon followed for 18. When skipper Garrott and then Michael Robertson fell, Reed were wobbling at 71-4. Ward and Scott Nash now began to up the run rate, Ward fell for 42, Fynn now joined Nash and they brought Reed back into the contest with a 57 partnership. Nash fell trying to hit his third consecutive six. Fynn continued with some great shots before falling for 35. Reed now needed more than ten an over. An unbeaten 23 from MJE Baker with help from both Martin and Matt Bowles left Reed just 28 runs short of their target.
RESULT: REDBOURN 237 for 7 in 40 Overs beat REED 209 for 8 in 40 Overs by 28 runs.
Match Report submitted by Neil Haslam.
