Reed Firsts caused an amazing upset by beating league leaders and favourites for the title, Radlett, by 14 runs in a match reduced to 32 overs a side owing to a prolonged weather break. The foundation for the victory was laid in the first short period of 16 overs. Rob Lankester and William Heslam (16) dashed to an opening partnership of 50 in just 7 overs scoring all their runs in boundaries. Tom Greaves (14) then supported Lankester as they took the total to 87 before the rain set in. On the resumption, Lankester fell for another scintillating half-century as the Radlett spinners, Toor (5-11) and Patel (3-27) wrested back control, although Stuart Smith (16) managed to marshall the tail through to the final over to accumulate 158 runs.

In reply Radlett set off in pursuit of a revised Duckworth Lewis Stern total of 179 with their own impressive century stand between Crawford (47) and Chatfield (54). However Reed’s quartet of bowlers: Ed Wharton, Matt Giblin, Toby Fynn and Greaves kept the scoring rate down until Fynn (2-37) broke the partnership with a spectacular running catch by Lankester on the long leg boundary. This was the spark that ignited Reed’s fire as Kapil Dave and the returning Wharton began to mop up the rest of their opponent’s line up. With the help of four more brilliant catches by Lankester in the outfield, including an incredible one handed diving effort, the pair worked their way through Radlett’s middle order leaving them requiring 30 from the remaining 4 overs with 4 wickets left. They had halved the deficit when keeper Sean Tidey brought off his own remarkable one handed dive to start the slide as all four wickets fell for a single run leaving them 164 all out. Wharton finished with 3-39 and Dave took the ball home with figures of 6-0-30-5.

This win must rate as one of the finest in Reed’s recent illustrious history.

Match report submitted by Peter Wholley.