Reed’s Sunday XI entertained the travelling side Roving Reporters at The Green this weekend. Batting first Julien Fynn was out after just the second delivery. Younger brother Toby was joined by Marcus Baker and they took the score to 35 before Fynn and Peter Baker fell in successive deliveries to Candy. Paul Garrott, the Thirds’ batting hero of Saturday, was out soon after and at 46 for 4, Reed were struggling. Enter Rhodri Hughes who with Marcus Baker set about rebuilding the innings. Baker reached his fifty off 66 balls but was out with adding to his half-century. Hughes continued his assault, though wickets fell regularly at the other end, a deserved fifty followed and he eventually fell for an 82-ball 65, he was helped on his way by younger brother Owen. Reed were dismissed for 156 with two balls remaining of their forty overs.
it was Owen Hughes (8-0-37-1) who took Reed’s first wicket in the first over. However, the Reporters built a partnership of 76 for the second wicket around Pike (50) and Wiggins (31), after both were dismissed by Will Archer (8-0-28-2), the score of 94 for 3 left the door slightly ajar. Archer in tandem with Steve Hughes (8-0-19-1) checked the run rate. With the last ten overs remaining the match was now evenly poised. Julien Fynn (6.4-0-35-3) began a spell that threatened to turn the match on its head. So much so that the visitors needed six runs off the last over and when Fynn took his third wicket on the first ball of that last over, Reed sensed the impossible. However, Shahzad and D Simmons held their nerve to take the Reporters home by two wickets with just two balls to spare. A thrilling game that Reed so nearly snatched at the death.
Match report submitted by Neil Haslam.
