Reed travelled to Radlett for their latest match in the Premier Division of the Saracens Herts. League. Losing the toss on a day that looked more like one from March than late-August, Reed were asked to take first knock.
The raw pace of Sanghera plus the left arm over of 15 year old Noah Cornwell kept runs at a premium in the early overs. Ed Wharton was the first to fall caught at deep mid-on for just 8. Will Heslam, Reed’s hero last week was struck on the helmet by a Sanghera bouncer and fell soon after for 4.
Wickets fell regularly and Reed were teetering at 43 for 6 in just the 14th Over. Mitchell Cooper and Sean Tidey set about rebuilding the innings. They punished anything loose and short and pushed the score over 100, with the first batting point in sight, Tidey was stumped off the bowling of Josh De Caires, the son of former England Captain Michael Atherton, for 28.
Cooper continued on, striking 6 fours and 3 sixes before edging behind for 48 off 61 balls. Jack Tidey and Toby Fynn added 15 for the last wicket as Reed were dismissed for 145 in the 37th Over. A more than respectable recovery from the position they were in earlier!
With Jack Tidey unable to bowl, Reed opened their attack with Ed Wharton (9-2-29-2) and Toby Fynn. Wharton soon struck taking the edge of Chatfield’s bat for a great catch behind by Sean Tidey with the score on 11. Wharton’s good lines and bounce soon snaffled a second wicket, De Caires for 21, and at 34-2, Reed were back in the match.
Crawford and Arul responded to the Reed bowlers and began to shift the balance back to the hosts. Karl Ward (6.2-1-21-2) coming on to replace Fynn bowling well on his First Team return. A sharp piece of fielding from Ward ran-out Crawford for 29. However it brought skipper Jenkins to the crease and he set about building the decisive knock.
Despite two late wickets from Ward, Radlett reached their target in the 32nd Over. Reed again can take a lot from the match having recovered from a seemingly impossible position with grit and determination and some good bowling in reply.
RESULT: REED 145 All Out (36.4 OVERS) (3 points) lost to RADLETT 146 for 5 (31.2 OVERS) (25 points) by 5 WICKETS.
Match Report submitted by Neil Haslam.
