Firsts win by 3 runs!

At last, the First XI secured a win.... but just by 3 runs! Dunstable Town have proved to be a bogey team for Reed, but they were given a boost when the main architect of Reed's defeats, Luke Cherry, pulled out at the last minute. Nevertheless Reed's innings could hardly have started more disastrously with both openers in the hutch within 10 balls. Max Sanderson and Rob Lankester rescued them, however, both striking 45, scoring 9 boundaries and 3 maximums between them. They were ably supported by Jack Caine (17) and Sam Osborne (15). Yet, when the latter was out on the stroke of lunch, 139-4 became 159 all out as Dunstable's spinners cruised through the lower order. This seemed well below par as Dunstable calmly moved to 70-1. It was then that Osborne struck, brilliantly picking up and throwing down the wicket of the express paced Sam Cherry. Two more wickets fell at the same score, including Australian Deon Billington bowled by Jack Tidey for a golden duck. Tidey once again tied down one end, bowling 16 overs on the spin finishing with 2 for 43. Another partnership took the visitors beyond 100 until Julien Fynn played a match winning performance, taking 4 for 35 as Dunstable lost their last four wickets for 11 runs. When the ninth wicket fell 9 were required and 5 tense overs ensued as they inched towards victory. A dropped slip catch seemed to signal another defeat for Reed but finally Tidey swooped to catch Jack Kilduff (39) before he could rain on Reed's party. This win gives Reed a morale boost as they top 100 points for the season and start to eye up the teams just above [...]

By |2023-07-30T09:15:28+01:00July 30th, 2023|Categories: 2023, 2023 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Firsts win by 3 runs!

Firsts fight back to draw!

The wind gusted around at 40 mph and thunder rumbled overhead at St Albans School, but Reed Firsts broke their losing streak by gaining a winning draw against Redbourn. Kallum Ward and Jack Caine continued their scoring sprees with 30 apiece, but a responsive wicket and slow outfield meant runs had to be fought for, so when the heavens opened and the gazebo, sightscreens and scoreboard blew over Reed hadn't made a hundred and were only allowed 44 overs to set a target. Max Sanderson with 17 not out and Jack Tidey (18) in their very different styles managed to boost the total to 131 in the 42nd over. At 73 for 1 Redbourn seemed to be coasting to victory, but a 14-over spell from Jack Tidey (2-33) including the wicket of the dangerous William Hales pegged back the run rate. The fight back started when Julien Fynn took two wickets in his first over, both to diving slip catches and thenceforth the Fynn brothers started to work their way through the batting order. Toby finished with 12-0-44-3 and Julien a niggardly 10-2-18-3. When the last over began, all four results were possible, but neither side could wrest a clear advantage so Redbourn finished 3 runs short on 128 for 8 from their 42 overs. Despite the difficult conditions, it became an exciting contest and ended with Reed claiming 12 points for their gutsy performance. Match Report submitted by Peter Wholley.

By |2023-07-20T05:32:58+01:00July 19th, 2023|Categories: 2023, 2023 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Firsts fight back to draw!

Sanderson’s superb 50 not enough to get U17s over the line

Reed Under 17s fielded a team for the very first time and entered the Hertfordshire T20 competition in a very strong league. Drawing on players who haven't played 20-over cricket in some time, Reed were able to field what looked like a potent team. Some unfortunate late withdrawals were accommodated as there was strong interest from the Colts players. The team consisted of 5x u17s, 2x u16s and 4x u15s. The inaugural U17s T20 match got underway in the most spectacular of fashions.... With Will Archer taking a wicket with the very first ball of the match - the opener caught in the slips by Max Sanderson. When Max forced a run-out in the 2nd over, everything was starting to look very rosy. Stortford's nos. 3 and 4 batters showed some resilience and played their shots.... clawing Stortford back into the match. It wasn't until the 1st change bowlers - Charlie Butler and Callum Rickets came in to take a wicket a piece. Runs slowed up in the middle order, with wickets falling at regular intervals. When Jacob Vincent took 2 wickets in the penultimate over, Stortford looked rattled, but 14 from the last over left Stortford on a total of 134 runs for 8 wickets from their 20 overs. With no dropped catches, and 3 catches taken by Charlie Butler, it was a good example of clean fielding. Chasing 134 to win, Max Sanderson opened with Matt Ladds. After a steady opening spell to get themselves set, Max opened the throttle in the 7th over - hitting straight and hard for 17. With Matt Ladds holding an end, Max was hitting the ball to all parts of the field, finishing with a reverse-sweep 4 [...]

By |2023-07-18T07:50:28+01:00July 18th, 2023|Categories: 2023, 2023 Match Report|Comments Off on Sanderson’s superb 50 not enough to get U17s over the line

Heartbreak at Hoddie

The Firsts just failed to break their sequence of defeats when Hoddesdon overtook their total with an over to spare. Once again the top order clicked on a good wicket with a fast outfield as Will Heslam (30) and Kallum Ward (55) registered the highest opening partnership of the season - 89 runs. They were followed by Rob Lankester (32) and the in form Jack Caine who top scored once more with 61. Caine only perished after the rain break when Reed were given just 4 more overs to add to their score. Fortunately, they had been going at 6 an over, so when Sean Tidey (26) and Toby Fynn (12) added more quick runs in an unbroken partnership, they were able to set a total of 255. Hoddesdon had 41 overs to reach it and their openers, Skipper Rob Walters and keeper Will Steward (65) kept up with the run rate in their stand of 120. Despite some accurate bowling and determined fielding, Reed could not stem the flow and Walters carried Hoddie through in the fortieth over making a chanceless 114. Toby and Julien Fynn, Jack and Sean Tidey all finished with a wicket apiece, but it was heartbreak nevertheless. Reed's next 'home' game versus Redbourn will be played at St. Albans School. Match Report submitted by Peter Wholley.

By |2023-07-10T06:08:29+01:00July 10th, 2023|Categories: 2023, 2023 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on Heartbreak at Hoddie

Better at Broxbourne

Reed Firsts produced their best batting display of the season at Broxbourne, but still lost by six wickets. Their innings was given momentum by a century second wicket partnership between Kallum Ward (88) and Rob Lankester (44). The former was in his usual aggressive form hitting 10 boundaries, whilst Lankester was striking the ball beautifully until the wind caught a well timed drive that was brilliantly caught on the boundary. Ward perished in similar fashion, leaving Jack Caine (38 not out) to continue his form from last week, well supported by Sam Osborne, Vibes Gadhvi and Sean Tidey. 246 for 5 seemed a good total, but on a benign pitch it did not prove sufficient. Broxbourne's opening stand of 139 between Kegan Eales and Alex O'Sullivan (51) was ended when Lankester caught the latter off his own bowling. Hopes were raised when Sam Osborne had Eales stumped by Ward with his second ball on an agonising 99 and immediately had captain George Davies caught for a duck. However, Connor Ridley made a rapid 50 despite the best efforts of the Reed bowlers to contain him. Indeed Reed bowled well on such an easy paced wicket: Julien Fynn only going for 46 from 15 consecutive overs either side of tea and William Heslam picking up the other wicket to fall. Overall, Reed's best performance so far giving encouragement for some victories in the second half of the season. Match Report submitted by Peter Wholley.

By |2023-07-04T08:00:15+01:00July 4th, 2023|Categories: 2023, 2023 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on Better at Broxbourne
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