Broxbourne 1 may be running top of the league, but Reed’s continual improvement in form is beginning to show through.
After losing the toss and being put in the field, a change in the opening bowling meant that Aaron Nash (3 overs, 0 maidens, 0 wickets, 19 runs) and Tom Green (3-0-1-19) were pitched against Broxbourne’s openers – bristling with district and county players. Tom and Aaron keeping Broxbourne honest.
As is becoming customary…. Reed continued to take wickets at the expense of runs, with newcomer Charlie Cannon (3-0-1-14) and veteran Lily Hall (3-0-1-30) feeling the heat from the dangerous middle order. The depth of Broxbourne’s batting line-up started to show, with Stanley Johnson (1-0-0-11) and Sam Dawson (1-0-0-12) being punished by the experienced batting. Reed’s most experienced bowlers shored up the bowling, Daniel Vincent (3-0-1-8) and Callum Ricketts (3-0-3-26), but even they could stem the flow. Reed had taken 7 Broxbourne wickets.
With Broxbourne on 149, a victory was always going to be a long shot …. But Reed had their eye on achieving maximum batting bonus points.
With Broxbourne’s bowling line-up as adept as their batters, the aim was to bat long and deep – So the early loss of the normally steady Oscar Lamb for 0 was a big blow. Tom Green (8) was caught attempting to clear the fielder. Daniel Vincent to the crease earlier than expected with Reed on 26 for 2 off 7 overs.
Callum and Daniel looked to be steadying the ship once again, before Callum fell on 9 runs to a peach of a ball. Charlie Cannon arrived… along with the fireworks, hitting a 6 off his first ball, followed by a 4 of the next! The display was explosive, but short lived… Falling to a fine catch for 15.
Two quick wickets (Aaron Nash, Sam Dawson) followed for no additional runs. With Reed on 66 for 6, Daniel had to accelerate before he ran out of partners. A flurry of boundaries followed, from both Daniel and Lily Hall which brought Reed agonisingly close to the magic 100 mark before Daniel retired on 31, scoring 14 off his last 3 balls.
Steady Stanley Johnson came to the crease. Reed were on 94, needing 6 runs from their last 3 wickets and 4 overs remaining. When Lily fell on 9 runs. Reed were on 98, with 3 overs left. Gethin Hill joining Stanley at the crease and nerves were starting to show.
Stanley got Reed over the magic 100 with a delicious 4 and was caught on his next delivery. Gethin was the last wicket to fall, leaving young Natasha McNamara as the last (wo)man standing.
While the margin of victory was numerically large, the way that this Reed team is growing together shows great promise, easily their best display so far.
Reed racked up a 17 losing bonus points – significantly more than any other team has achieved against Broxbourne 1. A team on the rise. The elusive 1st victory cannot be far away.
Match report submitted by Lee Vincent.
