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 to retire Not Out on 51 from 30 balls.
After Max’s retirement – A flurry of wickets fell. First Matt (21 from 42), then Charlie Butler (2 from 7) and Daniel Vincent (Golden Duck)!
Jacob Vincent and Liam Neal were at the crease. Reed needed to up the run rate, so Jacob took up the mantle, scoring regular boundaries, and running quickly between the wickets until a miscommunication led to Jacob failing to get back to his crease after being sent back by Liam after rejecting a quick single.
Reed were 113 for 4 from 17.3 overs. (Jacob 16 from 14)
Needing 21 from 15 balls Will Green escaped after a catch from his first ball was a No Ball. Reed were helped by some wayward bowling.
Chasing the runs, wickets fell. Will Green (4 from 6), Liam (5 from 16) and Matt Archer stumped on the last ball of the innings for a duck.
It was a case of so close, yet so far….. There is a core team here, and some experienced players waiting in the wings to come into the team for the next game…. Broxbourne Away.
20-over cricket is a different beast to the Saturday / Sunday game…. so fingers crossed for next time out.
Match Report submitted by Lee Vincent.
