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Firsts slip up again

For the fourth match running, the Firsts found themselves in a tense finish, despite holding a dominant position at one stage, and for the third time they let the game slip away. Luton Town and Indians needed 13 runs from the final over and top scorer, Jeetan Patel smashed two boundaries and a maximum with one ball left. This was after Reed bossed the majority of the match. Will Heslam set the tone with a speedy 58 until he was brilliantly caught over his shoulder by mid-on running back. There followed a procession of batters getting set, but not pushing on for a big score: Kallum Ward (24), Matt Sampson (37), Zac McGuigan (28), Rob Lankester (27) and James Heslam (24) . This left Reed with a total of 246 all out, but at last they made use of all 60 allotted overs. On a hard, fast pitch and outfield, the opposition were confident of overhauling that score, but their first 30 overs seemed to suggest otherwise. Toby Fynn started remarkably with 8 consecutive maidens and a wicket, leaving Luton 20 for 2 from 16 overs. At 85 for 5 from 30 a draw was probably their best outcome, but then the game changed dramatically. Kevin Whitehall joined Patel and made a half century in just 18 balls (9 fours and 2 sixes). After 9 balls he was scoring at a rate of 333%! Even when he skyed a catch to Sean Tidey behind the wicket, the tail enders joined in with the fun maintaining a rate of of 6 an over in tandem with Patel who finished on 79 not out. As chances went down, even Tom Greaves could not staunch the flow as [...]

By |2022-07-26T07:27:43+01:00July 26th, 2022|Categories: 2022, 2022 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Firsts slip up again
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Owens squeeze home

For the third week running Reed was involved in a close match and this time they fell just short. With 6 needed and two batters set, they lost the last 3 wickets in 4 balls to slip agonisingly to defeat against the league leaders, Old Owens. However, at tea, with the score on 64 for 6 victory seemed a distant prospect until Mitchell Cooper (35) was joined first by Bertie Scott (25) and then Rob Lankester (19) doubling the score with aggressive stroke play. What was more remarkable, Lankester was a late replacement as he was still suffering from the thumb he broke over a month ago at Dunstable. What's more he hit the spinner over his head for two straight sixes! Yet just as an unlikely win was on the cards, he fell followed by Cooper and Julien Fynn to give Owens a 5 run victory. Earlier, Reed bowled well as Zac McGuigan sent back the first four Owens' batters for 40 runs with Scott (9-5-19-4) and Skipper, Tom Greaves, (2-24) mopping up the tail. Even then Old Owens felt confident that 133 was enough, but Reed's middle order so nearly proved them wrong. A disappointing end to a fine fighting display against a top bowling outfit. Match Report submitted by Peter Wholley.

By |2022-07-18T05:48:53+01:00July 18th, 2022|Categories: 2022, 2022 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Owens squeeze home
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Reed win despite Wharton’s ton!

Ed Wharton reminded Reed how much they miss him with an imperious ton, but even he could not stop the Firsts from registering victory, albeit with just over two overs to go. Reed dominated from the start with an opening partnership of 77 at nearly a run a ball by Will Heslam (40) and Kallum Ward (43). The latter scored all but a single run in boundaries. The momentum was maintained by Tom Greaves (28) and Zac McGuigan (34), but it was Matt Sampson who took the game away from Preston racing to 82 from 85 balls, including 7 boundaries and 6 maximums. It was a breathtaking innings, seeing off the leg spinner with 26 in one over. Even when he was caught on the boundary, Sean Tidey (19) and Bertie Scott (24) took the score to 296, frustratingly just short of the 300 mark with two overs left of the 60 allocated. When Toby Fynn, McGuigan and Greaves bagged 2 wickets apiece the game seemed done and dusted, but from 92 for 6 Ed Wharton, accompanied by keeper, Will Gillimore (36), doubled the score and Peter Murrell (32) helped Preston on to 223 for 7. With a minimum of a dozen overs left all three results were possible, but at last Wharton snicked McGuigan behind to Tidey for a scintillating 114 with 14 boundaries and 4 sixes at a rate of 121. Reed have struggled to close down matches this season, but Greaves juggled his bowlers astutely so that McGuigan (4-73) and Fynn (3-84) did the job with a little more than 2 overs to go. The skipper, himself, finished with 3-65 as Preston were bowled out for 262. The first timed-match win of [...]

By |2022-07-10T07:39:06+01:00July 10th, 2022|Categories: 2022, 2022 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Reed win despite Wharton’s ton!
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Shenley have a sting in their tail

A stunning stand of 70 at more than a run a ball by Shenley Village's ninth wicket pair a la Bairstow/Stokes stole the match from Reed after they looked set for their first win in four. Reed set off well with Sam Osborne moving confidently to 18 until Aussie Nissen made one leap on him and the keeper snaffled the chance. There was a repeat perfomance against Max Sanderson which the umpire adjudged to be out too. After a 57 run partnership between Will Heslam (34) and Zac McGuigan (37) Reed were going well at 90 for 2, but 4 quick wickets left them in trouble. However, Bertie Scott (20), Karl Ward (16) and, chiefly, skipper for the day Sean Tidey, with a sublime 48 steered them to 218 all out. Northants batter, Charlie Thurston, tucked into Reed's pace attack with a string of boundaries, but he carelessly lofted McGuigan to Sam Osborne at cover and when keeper, Kallum Ward, pouched a chance off McGuigan, Shenley were on the back foot. At tea though, they had rebuilt to 100 for 3. On the resumption, Toby Fynn took over, taking 4 for 60 from 19 consecutive overs with more help from Ward and Osborne in the field. 122 for 7 seemed to indicate a Reed victory, but even another Ward/McGuigan wicket couldn't halt the onslaught of Vekaria (29) and Shafiq (42) for the ninth wicket. They smashed 11 boundaries and one maximum offering just two difficult chances with no bowler immune from the barrage. Consequently, Shenley won by 2 wickets. An exciting contest then, which fluctuated abruptly from one side to the other. Unfortunately, Reed were left with just bonus points at the end. Match Report [...]

By |2022-07-04T06:48:40+01:00July 4th, 2022|Categories: 2022, 2022 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Shenley have a sting in their tail
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Absent, Injured and Out

With 17 players from the First and Second XIs either unavailable or injured, clearly both sides were on a hiding to nothing. Reed Firsts even included two injured quick bowlers to make up numbers! Their opponents duly obliged as Broxbourne recorded two century stands, George Davies leading both with 143 not out , well supported by Niles Robinson (68) and Darcy Murphy (32 not out). Toby Fynn and Matt Giblin both claimed a couple of wickets, but Broxbourne racked up an impressive 290 for 5 declared. To make matters much worse, Reed slumped to 11 for 5 against the pace of Connor Ridley and Murphy, the former finishing with 4 for 32. Thankfully Matt Sampson (61) and Stuart Smith (29) survived to compile their own century stand, giving the score some semblance of respectability. However, their departure wasn't the end as the last 3 wickets added 64, mainly through Sean Tidey (18) and Toby Fynn (27), plus a penalty 5 runs for a helmet infringement! Aussie Murphy had the final say though, his pace accounting for 3 of the last 4 wickets to fall. Let's hope more players are available for the trip to Shenley Village next week as we reach the halfway mark in the season. Match Report submitted by Peter Wholley.

By |2022-06-27T06:40:49+01:00June 27th, 2022|Categories: 2022, 2022 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Absent, Injured and Out
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Tom and James sparkle in vain

Fine individual performances by Tom Greaves and James Heslam were ultimately in vain as Reed fell tantalisingly 18 runs short with 17 minutes of the game left to play. Hemel Hempstead Town chose to bat on an easy-paced wicket, but two quick wickets set them off to a slow start. Opener Ilengeratne gradually built what turned out to be a match winning innings of 67, supported by Dodson (34) and Finch (25). For Reed Toby Fynn bowled tidily unchanged for figures of 14 overs, 5 maidens, 29 runs, 2 wickets, but the star turn was Tom Greaves whose 16 overs yielded 5 wickets for just 30 runs. Zac McGuigan also contributed a wicket, catch and a run out. Hemel were dismissed for 181 with 9 balls remaining. The game seemed over when the top order collapsed to 76 for 6 due to spin wizard Mehta (18-8-27-3), but James Heslam and Bertie Scott (24) added 42 until the latter was caught and bowled by Parkins, who eventually took out the tail, finishing with 4 for 41. Heslam, however, steered the score through to 163, leaving the opposition biting their nails until Aussie, Jones, bowled Fynn with Heslam 50 not out. Ultimately the top order played too many rash strokes to win a timed game. Match Report submitted by Peter Wholley.

By |2022-06-12T00:00:37+01:00June 12th, 2022|Categories: 2022, 2022 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Tom and James sparkle in vain
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Lankester leads the charge

For the second successive game a century stand led Reed to a comfortable victory over Flitwick. This time, the partnership of 109 was between Rob Lankester (83 not out) and Zac McGuigan (40). However, when Flitwick cruised to 80 for their first wicket it looked like they were destined for a big score. The game turned when Lankester rose to catch skipper George Thurstance at mid-off just as he was set and three more quick wickets left Flitwick 86 for 4. Karl Ward (10-2-35-2) was the chief architect of the collapse. Yet it was another 60 runs before Reed captured the next wicket when McGuigan returned and from then on a string of dismissals left the visitors 207 all out. Tom Greaves in particular caught the eye with 2-20 from his 10 overs while Toby Fynn mopped up the tail. Reed started their reply slowly losing their two openers, who had scored so freely last week, but the third wicket partnership swung the match as Lankester especially tucked into the spinners with 9 boundaries and 3 maximums. As last week, the final impetus came from Greaves with 29 quick runs until he was caught going for the winning hit. This was left to Jack Caine as Reed romped to 210 for 4 in the 43rd over. Another good win as we go into the 60 over timed matches next week at home to Hemel. Match Report submitted by Peter Wholley.

By |2022-06-05T08:26:40+01:00June 5th, 2022|Categories: 2022, 2022 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Lankester leads the charge
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WILL AND SAM STAND OUT AT HITCHIN

An opening stand of 166 between Will Heslam (106) and Sam Osborne (55), providing the anchor, gave Reed the impetus to post a fine score against Hitchin on a road. Both openers rode their luck, surviving sharp chances in the slips, but Heslam was in fine form hitting 14 boundaries and Osborne gave him steady company with his second half century of the season. When both were out in quick succession you feared another batting collapse, but Rob Lankester, Zac McGuigan, Sean Tidey and Bertie Scott all made double figures, although Tom Greaves fired a swift 30, including two maximums, to ensure Reed totalled 254 for 6 in their 50 overs. Hitchin were beset with injuries caused during the game to two of their top three batters, but that did not hamper A.J. Momi, who smashed 87 with 10 boundaries and 4 maximums, despite batting with a runner throughout. However, unlike in Reed’s innings, he was not supported by his top order, which succumbed to the spin of Scott and Greaves, taking two wickets apiece. A defining moment came when McGuigan returned with a fiery spell of 2-13, including the prize wicket of Momi, trapped in front. Only wicketkeeper, Dryden (37) caused a flutter of concern, but Toby Fynn with 3-35 cleaned him up to leave Hitchin on 214. It was a fine all round performance demonstrating how important a sound start is for a winning score. Match Report submitted by Peter Wholley.

By |2022-05-29T16:15:45+01:00May 29th, 2022|Categories: 2022, 2022 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on WILL AND SAM STAND OUT AT HITCHIN
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SEAN SPARES REED’S BLUSHES IN DEFEAT

A potent mixture of line and length, pace, early seam and swing left Reed Firsts in the proverbial dire straits at 36 for 7. Old Owens’ bowlers Bloxham (3) and Wickham (4) ripped through the visitors' top order with only Matt Sampson (11) reaching double figures. Fortunately Sean Tidey was at his belligerent best, counter attacking with 6 boundaries and 2 maximums in his 52. He was ably supported by Ryan Waldock with a patient 14 in 44 balls. Their stand of 43 at least gave Reed some respectability, although a total of 105 would never be enough on a pitch which had lost its initial spite. Indeed, Stephen Williams smashed 64 not out as Old Owens cruised to victory by 8 wickets in just 15 overs. Toby Fynn and Bertie Scott took the wickets from steepling catches. Not a game to stay in the memory for the visitors. Match Report submitted by Peter Wholley.

By |2022-05-15T06:36:58+01:00May 15th, 2022|Categories: 2022, 2022 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on SEAN SPARES REED’S BLUSHES IN DEFEAT
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SAM’S 50 SECURES A SUCCESSFUL START TO THE SEASON

Reed Firsts made a successful start to their league campaign with a well deserved win over old rivals Preston. Having been put in during the most difficult of the day's conditions, they made a steady start reaching 78 for 1 through a stand of 59 between Sam Osborne and Rob Lankester (35). Bertie Scott then gave the innings momentum cracking 7 boundaries, including 4 from one over, in a quick-fire 29. When Osborne, who only turned 16 two days previously, was eventually dismissed for a disciplined, well crafted 56, Reed looked well placed at 165 for 5, but Australian, Sathyajith, took 4 for 12 to restrict them to 193 for 9. Matt Sampson's 22 was the mainstay of the lower order. At 70 for 1, Preston appeared to be on top, but Toby Fynn's economical 10 over spell for 27 had already put them behind the asking rate and spinners Scott (1-36) and Tom Greaves (3-23) from their full allocations put them even further behind. The latter removed the dangerous Ed Wharton for a golden duck on his return to The Green courtesy of a sensational catch by James Heslam at first slip. It was left to Karl Ward (3-13) and Matt Giblin (2-34) to clean up the innings, leaving Preston 134 all out. Altogether a highly satisfactory performance after last season's toils in the Premier Division. Match report submitted by Peter Wholley.

By |2022-05-09T15:33:26+01:00May 8th, 2022|Categories: 2022, 2022 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on SAM’S 50 SECURES A SUCCESSFUL START TO THE SEASON
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