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It’s over!

After nearly a decade in the Premier divisions, Reed had to bow out after losing the final game of the season to Broxbourne by 51 runs. However the outcome could have been different had catches been taken and shot selection been better as Reed were up with the run rate throughout their innings. Once again this season, the opposition was in deep trouble to start with slumping to 67 for 6 after 21 overs thanks to some fine bowling by Jack Tidey (4-24) well supported by Toby Fynn (1-31). Yet in customary fashion they recovered as Connor Ridley (57) and Aussie Darcy Murphy (90) put together a stand of 82 whilst the Reed bowlers could not polish off the innings as they posted 228 for 9. Another good opening partnership of 60 between Sean Tidey (40) and Sam Osborne (21) in just 10 overs gave the hosts a solid platform, but they could not build on it as several batsmen made starts, but got themselves out. Only Tom Greaves with a chanceless 28 helped to compile a total of 177. Thus ends a "season horribilis", but we can look forward to playing in a league where we should be able to thrive. Match Report submitted by Peter Wholley.

By |2023-09-07T08:32:59+01:00September 7th, 2023|Categories: 2023, 2023 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on It’s over!
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League Leaders Scrape Home

Reed Firsts narrowly failed to beat the League leaders, Shenley Village, losing by 1 wicket. Seven Reed batters scored over 19, but none managed to top 30. Sam Osborne (26), Kallum Ward (30), Max Sanderson (19), Jack Caine (21) and Rob Lankester (30) all looked set, but none managed to push on, leaving the innings in the balance at 153-6. Fortunately the recovery was led by Tom Greaves (24), making a welcome return to the side, and Vibes Ghadvhi (27), playing against his former club, who took the score to 197, only for Reed to lose the last 4 wickets for just one run. When Toby Fynn bowled County player, Charlie Thurston in the middle of a fine spell of 4-30, an upset looked on the cards, but Shenley's middle order dug in. However Sean Tidey chipped in with two quick wickets, including that of top scorer Will Thompson to put Reed back in the driving seat. Shenley's lower order have defeated Reed in the past and they took the score to 176-9 as Jack Tidey, Greaves and Lankester claimed a wicket apiece. It was then that the rain proved to be Reed's downfall. Ahead on DLS, an anxious hour ensued for the home team until the umpires deemed there was enough time for four more overs. It only took Aussie, Kris Nissen three to knock off the runs and deny Reed a memorable victory. A sterling performance by the home team with some excellent fielding, catching all the five chances given. It was a shame they fell 20 runs short of a winning total. Match Report submitted by Peter Wholley.

By |2023-08-14T15:31:06+01:00August 14th, 2023|Categories: 2023, 2023 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on League Leaders Scrape Home
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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!
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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!
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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
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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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Preston pans Reed with bat and ball

Two teams struggling for form met on the Cokenach Estate and Preston emerged victorious by 150 runs. Despite Julien Fynn removing the dangerous Ed Wharton early on, the away team took charge with a mammoth 253 run partnership between Daniel Scholz (115) and Philip Simpson (108), although the latter was given three lives. Pete Gooden then struck 45 from just 19 balls, so Preston finished on the impressive total of 335 for 4. Nevertheless, Matt Giblin took 3 for 59 from his 10 overs. Reed stuttered again at first, until Chris Jackson, making a welcome return to the Firsts, scored a stylish 54 and was well supported by Jack Caine, who compiled 60 runs in composed fashion. Thereafter, the innings succumbed to spin, despite some aggressive batting from Stuart Smith, Mike Robertson and Toby Fynn. Max Anderson (5-33) and Peter Murrell (3-67) were responsible for their downfall as Reed still seek their first win of the season. Match Report submitted by Peter Wholley.

By |2023-06-27T06:45:38+01:00June 27th, 2023|Categories: 2023, 2023 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Preston pans Reed with bat and ball
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Redemption

Reed Firsts redeemed themselves after last week's fiasco by putting in a much improved performance against top of the table Shenley Village. Choosing to bat first, Reed set off with their best opening stand of the season, Will Heslam (44) and Sam Osborne (18) compiling 62 before Shenley snapped up 4 quick wickets. However, either side of lunch, Stuart Smith (26) and Kallum Ward (35) put on 68 together until Herts County spinner Ashley Sivrajah ripped through the middle order with figures of 5 for 32. Looking at a total of just 150, Sean Tidey took control of the innings by keeping the strike and finally punishing Sivarajah by taking him for another 37 runs, including 4 maximums. As a result, Reed totalled a respectable 202 for 9 against 3 first class spinners and in the process Sean reached his unbeaten half century. In reply, Charles Thurston set off in spirited fashion, but Jack Tidey gained his prize scalp, caught behind by brother Sean. Jack's 11 overs brought him figures of 2 for 43. Shenley have packed their top order with fine attacking batsmen this season as they look to win promotion without going through another play off, so it wasn't until Matt Giblin bowled Nish Selvakumar for 37 that Reed took another wicket (136 for 3). Despite the valiant efforts of Giblin (2-28) and Heslam (1-16), Shenley cruised home, winning by 5 wickets, thanks largely to a well paced unbeaten knock of 71 by Australia A Captain, Nathan McSweeney, (who incidentally is tipped for an Ashes call-up if England can nobble one of Australia's main batsmen). Altogether a very creditable result against the favourites for promotion this year. Match Report submitted by Peter Wholley.

By |2023-06-12T07:25:18+01:00June 12th, 2023|Categories: 2023, 2023 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Redemption
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Catches WIN matches!

They say catches win matches, so if you drop 10, the result is almost certainly inevitable. Dunstable profited to the tune of 266 for 6 with Aussie Billington top scoring with 80. Only Chris Chambers managed to put a brake on their run charge taking 3 for 10 in his first 5 overs. He also had Billington with the last ball of his tenth over and eventually ended with 4 for 42. Reed stuttered to 47 for 5 in reply, four of those wickets falling to their perennial scourge Luke Cherry. However, when he finished his allocated overs, the lower order fought back led by a stylish innings of 38 by Max Sanderson and a more brutal one of 54 by Sean Tidey. They put together a stand of 77 and with the last wicket of Toby Fynn and Matt Giblin adding 24 more, Reed at least had the consolation of 3 batting bonus points. The innings closed with a respectable score of 193. Maybe Reed would benefit from some catching drills this week? Match Report submitted by Peter Wholley.

By |2023-05-29T09:03:12+01:00May 29th, 2023|Categories: 2023, 2023 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Catches WIN matches!
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A slippery start to the season

After two weeks of washed-out fixtures, Reed 1st XI looked set for a heavy defeat in their first game of the season as they slumped to 121 all out. They lost two wickets in the first two overs, although a solid partnership between skipper, Rob Lankester, and Sam Osborne (13) established a base to the innings. However when Lankester was LBW to slow left arm, Zimbabwean Connor Mitchell for 46 only Sean Tidey and Toby Fynn reached double figures as Reed lost their last 6 wickets for 31 runs. The signs were ominous when Jamie Regan took 17 from Jack Tidey's first over for 2 years, but Jack soon found his length and ripped out the visitor's top order taking 4 for 33 from his 10 overs, 3 of his victims clean bowled. He has been sorely missed. A wicket apiece for Sam Osborne and Toby Fynn as well as a direct hit run out from Mike Robertson in the covers had St Albans stuttering at 102 for 7, but their eighth wicket ground out the winning runs despite the best efforts of the Reed attack. After all it turned out to be a tight game played thanks to the kind permission of our hosts Cokenach CC. Match Report submitted by Peter Wholley.

By |2023-05-23T06:20:16+01:00May 23rd, 2023|Categories: 2023, 2023 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on A slippery start to the season
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