Reed nearly pulled off the result of the season as they fell just seven runs short against Welwyn Garden City.

Winning the toss, Reed inserted their hosts on a blustery day and were soon rewarded when Jack Tidey trapped former England International Owais Shah for just 4 with the score on 5. However, Tidey limped off injured after bowling just 4.3 overs.

Welwyn Garden set about rebuilding with Champion and Nijar, they had completed their 50-run partnership, when Matt Giblin (8-0-38-1) took the edge of Champion’s bat for Sean Tidey to take the catch behind the stumps.

Nijar soon followed as Will Heslam pouched a catch off skipper Tom Greaves (8-0-53-2). Welwyn Garden skipper Blacktopp and Rizvi built a solid partnership taking the score over 100, before Toby Fynn picked up two quick wickets (127 for 5).

Rizvi shared partnerships with Nolan and Shay Emerton, Fynn picking up his 3rd wicket (9-1-29-3) with Nolan’s dismissal. Rob Lankester was instrumental in bringing Welwyn Garden’s innings to a close taking 3 for 13 in just 3 overs with his medium pace, including the prize wicket of Rizvi for 61. Sean Tidey had a good day returning behind the stumps with two catches and a stumping. Welwyn Garden were all out for 227 off exactly 45 overs.

Reed’s opening pair of Ed Wharton and Will Heslam set off at a reasonable pace in reply. They punished any bad bowling and cleared the boundary on several occasions particularly Wharton with 2 fours and 2 sixes in his 29 before he fell with the score on 48.

Wickets then began to fall regularly and at 88 for 4 Reed were wobbling. Will Heslam still remained patiently accumulating runs. A solid partnership with Stuart Smith began a recovery before 2 more quick wickets left Reed on 140 for 6 with around 7 an over needed to pull off the win.

Tom Greaves joined Heslam and they added 36 off just 31 balls to bring Reed right back into contention. Greaves fell for 19, bringing Jack Tidey to the crease plus a runner. Heslam now opened up his shoulders hitting 3 sixes to add to his 9 fours as Reed needed 25 off the last 2 overs. Tidey was dismissed caught in the deep, then Heslam reached his century before holing-out in the deep for a magnificent 111 off the penultimate ball. It left Fynn and Giblin to face the last delivery taking the final total to 220 for 9 in their 45 overs, just 7 runs short against a team that has won the Premiership title three times in the last four seasons, another performance of note in their maiden season in Herts Cricket’s top division.

RESULT: WGC 227 ALL OUT (45 OVERS) (25 POINTS) BEAT REED 220 FOR 9 (45 OVERS) (11 POINTS) BY 7 RUNS.

Match Report submitted by Neil Haslam.