Reed Cricket Club’s Curry Evening courtesy of Marion and Paul Watts will be on Saturday 10th June. A selection of curries will be served at about 8 p.m. once all our playing members have returned to the Clubhouse from their various matches round the county. Cost: £5 per head. EVERYONE WILL BE WELCOME.
Reed’s batsmen ran into form as they cruised to 302-6 against Botany Bay. In a game where five batsmen scored 50’s, Ed Wharton gave them a flying start with a quick-fire 28. Will Heslam then made the first half ton with 52 of his 56 coming in boundaries. A steady partnership of 89 between Richard Wharton (52) and Matt Sampson (59) built the foundations for an imposing total, while Rob Lankester (21) and Tom Greaves (26) added useful runs. In reply, Reed’s bowlers always had control of the visitor’s innings, despite fine knocks from Shadrach Gittens-Browne (59) and the Hussain brothers – Zawar (56) and Khalid (41). Ed Wharton’s 8 overs cost a meagre 18 runs, while Matt Sampson (5-1-18-2) ensured that the Bay batsmen never managed to keep up with the run rate. An extraordinary final over from Marcus Martin started with two massive maximums and ended with 3 wickets in 4 balls, Rob Lankester pouching the last of his 3 catches on the deep mid-wicket boundary. Botany Bay were all out for 230 after 46 overs, Reed winning by 72 runs. Report submitted by Peter Wholley.
SATURDAY: The Firsts scored at 6 an over to total 302 for 6 on the Green. Fifties were scored by Will Heslam, Richard Wharton and Matt Sampson. When Botany Bay batted Sampson took 2 wickets and Marcus Martin 3 in four deliveries and were all-out for 230. At the end of the first batch of 50/50 format matches, Reed are 6th in the Championship Division. The Seconds came up short at Broxbourne who had made 205 all-out, Peter Tidey in the wickets there. Reed mustered 186 all-out with George Garrott top-scoring with a half-century. Reed are 5th in Division 4B. On the Freman Oval, Mill Hill Village were bowled out for 170. 2 wickets each for Steve Hughes and Martin Johnson, and 3 to Marcus Baker. Then Paul Garrott led the way reaching 80 and MJEB hit 60 as the Thirds passed the target with 5 wickets in-hand. This leaves Reed in 7th position in Division 9A. For the second successive week, the Fourths had to concede having only 5 available players. This Division plays only matches in the 40/40 format and positions are based on points aggregated divided by matches played (including those conceded). Perhaps it is needless to report, but Reed are bottom of Regional Division B East, with a Minus 1 Point Average. I am sure we look forward to when player availability is better and Reed CC as a whole can field four competitive teams in the Herts League all playing at their full potential. SUNDAY: After 532 runs were scored on the Green on Saturday, a further 606 runs were notched-up on Sunday. Reed made 322 for 7 with Will Haslam (91), Jack Tidey (73), Mitch Cooper (66) and Toby [...]
Reed 2nd XI hosted Ampthill Town 2nd XI up at The Green last weekend. On a beautiful May afternoon Ampthill won the toss and chose to bowl, in an attempt to benefit from the morning’s showers. Reed’s openers got off to a good start, putting on 52 for the first wicket before Matt Bowles was bowled for 13. George Garrott fell shortly after for 5 bringing Matt Sampson to the crease. Both he and Phil Frenay accumulated runs at a steady rate, in an attempt to lay the foundations for a sizeable total on a placid pitch. Frenay finally fell for 89, 2 runs short of the hundred partnership. Reed were 160-3 with 10 overs remaining. Reed debutant George Teeboon (23) and Sampson upped the run rate before the latter was caught for 56. Both Teeboon and Karl Ward (18) swung from the hip for the final few overs and Reed ended on a slightly below par 218-6. Reed knew that they had their work cut out to restrict Ampthill on a good batting wicket. Peter Tidey (2-27) and Karl Ward (1-11) opened up proceedings in typically frugal fashion removing Ampthill’s top 3 between them. After the introduction of Owen Hughes (0-25) and Jean-Marc Maujean (0-13) drew a blank and Ampthill’s batsmen started to make inroads in to Reed’s total, Frenay turned to Sampson (3-20) and Garrott (2-35) who bowled beautifully and ended Ampthill’s hopes of getting a positive outcome for the game. All that was left was for Bowles (1-0) to collect the last wicket which resulted in a Reed victory by 84 runs. Report submitted by Phil Frenay.
Reed Sunday XI versus Knebworth Blue / Preston Combined XI at Reed on Sunday 28th May 2017. Feeling willow on leather was order of the day for Reed’s batsmen on Sunday. Benefitting the most were George Garrott, (83), and Rhodri Hughes, (78), who put-on 124 for the second wicket once skipper, Rob Lankester, had won the toss. Boundary scores were scarce but the fast-moving pair managed more than 5 runs per over before they were parted. Youngsters, Ben Mansfield, (16), and Kieran McKinna, (14 not out), had fun later in the innings whilst accompanying Toby Fynn who hit 33 not put including 2 fours and 2 sixes. After their 40 overs, Reed had reached 265 for 4. The opposition comprising players from Knebworth Blue bolstered by some from Preston were immediately on the back foot after tea when William Heslam opened the bowling and hit the stumps in successive deliveries finishing with 2 for 8 from 5 overs. Neil Haslam was also economical be returning 1 for 15 from his allocation of 8 overs. Dave Saunders played a typical innings for the Combined XI from number 6 and progressed to a hard-hit 51 when he fell to a marvellously athletic one-handed catch at point by Lankester the very next delivery. Ben Mansfield held on to a couple of catches, one in the outfield at square leg and one as wicket-keeper after he had swapped with Ben Moody. Moody, in his bowling role, claimed a wicket as did Lankester, Hughes and McKinna who also judged a fine catch at extra cover. Garrott completed his day with a neat catch on the offside and Harry Hawes bowled tidily to record figures of 2 for 27. The visitors [...]
Reed III versus Bayford & Hertford Nondescripts II at Bayford on Saturday 27th May 2017. The Nondes’ opening pair got off to a flyer scoring at 6 an over until Matt Yates (1 for 22) split them. The second wicket added 68 and standing at 123 for 2 at the halfway stage they looked ominously imposing. Maseeh Naeem and Steve Hughes took the pace off the ball and Hughes in particular was rewarded with 2 wickets for 19 from his 10 overs. Toby Emes bowled 9 well-flighted overs taking 1 for 31. Skipper Marcus J.E. Baker brought himself on to bowl the 35th over of the innings and earned 3 for 25 as Bayford proceeded more slowly towards 200. Martin Johnson bowled the last wicket to fall as the hosts closed their innings at 205 for 8. Ben Moody kept well making a stumping and taking a catch. Outfield catches were pouched by M. Baker, Emes, Naeem and Joe Graves and the fielding generally was committed, Jack Childs especially saving crucial runs at extra cover. On paper, Reed’s top order were all capable of launching a challenging response, but then on the field, the wheels came off! P. Garrott, P. Baker, Johnson and Childs collectively amassed 3 runs and Ben Moody soon followed. By the 9th over, Reed were reeling at 24 for 5 when Matt Yates joined MJEB at the crease. Sweeping leg-side deliveries and driving through the off side when not defending resolutely, Yates kept MJEB company for 32 overs whilst they accumulated 119 runs together; a new record 6th wicket partnership for the 3rd XI. Baker went from 99 to 100 thanks to a dropped catch in the outer. Shortly afterwards, a [...]
Toby Fynn was the unlikely hero with the bat as Reed scrambled a one wicket win at Ampthill Park. After another blistering spell of pinch-hitting by Ed Wharton (66 with 54 in boundaries) Reed were strolling to pass Ampthill’s total of 144 at 115-1. A stand of 73 with Rob Lankester (25) had put them in the driving seat after just 20 overs. However, the Australian, Jarryd Biviano, turned the match with a fine spell of spin bowling taking 6-24 from 7 overs. As a result, Reed lost 8 for 26 and it seemed that they had thrown the game away, but against the odds, last man Toby Fynn calmly flicked Biviano off his legs down to the fine leg boundary to snatch victory. This followed a pattern set in the home side’s innings after Biviano had started them off at thundering rate, taking 26 from the first over as Ed Wharton had to pull out of the attack with a back problem. At 105-2 from 15 overs with Biviano on 60 a huge total looked to be on the cards, but Tom Greaves deceived him with a ball through the gate. Indeed, Greaves (10-2-39-3) and Sean Tidey (10-2-22-3) then spun out the middle order, leaving Marcus Martin (2-5) and Mitchell Cooper (1-0) to mop up the tail. Ampthill, themselves, thus lost 8 for 39. It set up a nerve jangling ending to a topsy-turvy game. Report submitted by Peter Wholley.
It's been all-change this week. The Fourths had to concede their Herts League match on Saturday. Not enough players! Eaton Bray have conceded their Village Cup match against Reed 1st XI on Sunday. Not enough players!! The Sunday "Friendly" against Aspenden would have been conceded; not enough players!!! But because the 1st Team players became available, there will be a match at Reed on Sunday. It won't be against Aspenden though (not enough players!!!!). Instead a combined Preston / Knebworth Blue side will visit us; 2pm start. SATURDAY: The Firsts and Seconds had a double-header against Ampthill. Away at Ampthill, the 1sts bowled them out for 144, 3 wickets each to Tom Greaves and Sean Tidey. Ed Wharton then biffed 66 supported by Rob Lankester's 25. But precariously poised 9 wickets down needing the final runs, Toby Fynn saw Reed to a 1 wicket win. Meanwhile at Reed, Phil Frenay led our 2nds to 218 for 6 with 89; Matt Sampson scored a half-century too. The visitors could muster only 134 leaving Reed victors by 84 runs. The wickets were "shared around". Over at Bayford, the 3rds played Bayford & Hertford Nondescripts who reached 205 for 8 in their 50 overs. Marcus Baker took 3 for 25 and Steve Hughes 2 for 19. At 24 for 5 in reply, Reed looked dead & buried, but a new 6th wicket partnership of 119 between Matt Yates (26) and MJEB ensued. MJEB ploughed-on to 133 until Reed were all-out for 201, just 5 runs short of the target. SUNDAY: The Sunday friendly against a Combined XI from Knebworth Blue and Preston at Reed saw fine batting performances from George Garrott, (83), and Rhodri Hughes, (78), as they [...]
It’s not the type of victory one likes but was certainly more than welcomed to get the 3s' first 30 points of the season. A second heavy deluge of rain prematurely ended what was shaping into an exciting second innings. The visiting Shenley Village had won the toss and inserted Reed. Paul Garrott and Rob Willoughby did the hard work in putting together a hundred-run opening stand despite a rain delay. Willoughby (33) eventually fell in the 24th over to be replaced by Martin Johnson (6) before also losing his wicket to the bowling of Darmji. Garrott meanwhile was crafting a crucial knock. The score reached 131 before he picked out gully for 69. M.J.E. Baker and Rhodri Hughes (15) both new to the crease were just starting to settle in when a poor call from Baker left Hughes short of his ground. It was crucial for another partnership to be formed and Ben Moody stood with his captain superbly. As the innings approached a close, Baker and Moody took greater chances as they approached 200. Baker was bowled for 39. New signing Jean-Marc Maujean (6) batted selflessly for the team whilst Moody (28*) took Reed to 213 for 6. Despite good spells from Steve Hughes and Jack Childs, Manzi and Mitesh held out against Reed's opening bowlers. Wickets seem to slip past Reed with chances just out of reach. Meanwhile the visitors were getting themselves into a strong winning position. Maseeh Naeem and Baker slowed up the run rate before both struck with consecutive deliveries putting shock and confusion into the Shenley camp. But then, rain! A 45-minute heavy downpour made the pitch and outfield un-playable. The score was 101 for 2 from 24 [...]
Reed IV versus Totteridge Millhillians IV at Maccabi Sports Ground, Barnet on Saturday 20th May 2017. In a rain-reduced match, a nine-player Reed team were not overwhelmed in the field until the final 10 overs when Totteridge Millhillians accelerated the run rate ending on 208 for 6. Graham Stuart had applied the brakes by taking 3 wickets mid-innings when T-Ms stuttered from 115 to 135. The youthful trio of Ben Mansfield, Richard Stuart and Harry Hawes saved plenty in the field whilst good catches were pouched by Steve Hoye, Ben Mansfield (2) and wicket-keeper, Bill Mansfield. Neil Haslam, Richard Stuart and Lloyd Bowman shared the 3 other wickets to fall. Requiring a run-rate approaching 6 an over, Reed set-off solidly although not fluidly. Hoye and Peter Baker managed only 1 boundary four each as they compiled an opening stand of 35, but they were the only boundaries in the innings of 58 all out. Baker departed for 14 and Hoye top-scored with 18 but the rest were picked-off by some accurate bowling mainly by Rahul Bhatnager (4 for 9) and Thiruchelvcam (3 for 15). Reed were well adrift by 150 runs at the close of play. Reed IV (6 points) lost to Totteridge Millhillians IV (30 points) by 150 runs. Report by PGB.
