Reed faced local rivals Hare Street and Hormead in the First Round of the 2021 National Village Cup. Having lost the toss, Reed were put into bat. and were in trouble at 13 for 2 after just 5 overs. A century partnership between Stuart Smith and Kallum Ward led the revival. Once Ward was out for 61 off just 46 balls, skipper Ed Garrott took up the reins with a further 70 runs added before Smith fell for 75 off 83 deliveries. Garrott (49) fell agonisingly short of his fifty. Michael Robertson (39) added some useful late runs with the lower order. Reed finished on 271 for 7 off their 40 overs.
Hare Street opened their batting with former Reed colt Reece Fitzgerald and Hugh McNamara. McNamara fell early bowled lbw by Julien Fynn (5-0-25-1). Fitzgerald and Steel set about upping the run rate, Fitzgerald was out for exactly 50 with the score 99 for 2. Reed now tightened the screw in the middle overs with Giblin (8-1-14-3) and Garrott (8-0-41-1) leaving the visitors on 116 for 5, Chris Jordan supported Steel through a 47-run partnership for the 6th wicket, before Rupert Martin (7.5-0-44-2) and Karl Ward (6-0-44-2) returned to wrap up the innings for 169 in the 35th Over. The hard-hitting Steel might have brought-off a miracle if he had continued, and was tantalisingly close to a three-figure score when he was out, much to the relief of the Reed faithful.
Reed now face Preston in the 2nd Round on 9th May after they had beaten Sharnbrook & Brougham comfortably in their Round 1 tie.
Match report submitted by Neil Haslam.
