Bishop’s Stortford won the toss and chose to field. In a shake up of the batting order, Jacob and Daniel Vincent opened. A decision that was regretted when both openers were dismissed playing questionable strokes early on – both caught at mid-wicket. Daniel for 4, Jacob for 10. When Eddie Cooke fell second ball for nought, Reed looked in trouble. Then when Kerian, who looked in good form, was dismissed 4 balls later Reed were 32 for 4 off 6 overs.

Callum Ricketts and Aaron Nash were at the crease. Plenty of overs left, and Reed needed to settle… Callum was performing an admirable role in blocking, but fell in the 7th over for nought.

Reed were reeling on 36 for 5. Oli Cambridge strode out with purpose with 12 overs left. Aaron fell in the 10th over. Charlie Cannon joined Ollie and scored a boundary off his first ball.

Ollie was determined to keep the strike, and Charlie was determined to run hard to keep him there. Unfortunately, Charlie was caught on his second ball. Reed were 49 for 7 from 11 overs.

Liam Neal came to the crease with few runs to his name this season, so it was a pleasant surprise when the run rate accelerated. It was more of a surprise that Reed survived until the 18th over before Liam was caught on 9 having score 2 boundaries.

George Wood went in to help Ollie make the score respectable… putting on 14 runs between them in 16 balls, Ollie reaching 35, George 2. Reed finished on 99.

After the disastrous start, it was a defendable total.

Bishop’s Stortford came in to bat hoping for their first win of the season. Reed were going with their tried and tested strategy of mixing seam and spin. With a small total to defend, the captain wasn’t in the mood for sentimentality.

George Wood opened with a tight first over – 3 runs. Ollie Cambridge struck with his 2nd ball – Daniel Vincent taking a catch at mid-wicket. Wicket Maiden. Ollie followed that with a second wicket maiden. Both openers were out for ducks.

George struggled in his 3rd over, going for 9 finishing on 3-0-0-14,
Olli Cambridge finished on 3-2-2-1… Truly exceptional figures.

Reed were on top. We wont mention the dropped catch 🙂

The 2nd spin/seam pairing of Jacob Vincent and Ollie Tapsell rolled in.
Jacob went for 4 on his 1st ball. But bowled the batter with his 3rd…..
Ollie Tapsell took a wicket in his third over, plus a swift Run Out from George Wood, finishing 3-0-1-11.

Jake took another with his last over (3-0-2-14); Bishops Stortford 40 for 6 off 12.

Eddie Cook took a wicket with his 4th ball. (1-0-1-6)
Charlie Cannon was the unfortunate recipient of some aggressive batting. (1-0-0-12)

The pairing of Daniel Vincent and Callum Ricketts were brought on to finish the innings, and delivered in style.

Daniel (1-1-1-0)
Callum (0.5-0-2-1)

Bishop’s Stortford bowled out for 65. Reed win by 34. Up to 2nd in the league. For now at least.

Match Report submitted by Lee Vincent.