Reed Cricket Club will open their title defence in The Cricketer Village Cup 2020 with a visit to Hertfordshire rivals Redbourn after the draw for the competition, (better known formerly as The National Village Cup), took place at Lord’s on Wednesday. Reed – whose 2019 win was their third time lifting the trophy in eight seasons – is one of 308 clubs who learned their fixtures for the 49th edition of the knockout tournament, which is set to open on May 3. Awarded a Bye in Round 1, Reed will visit Redbourn on Sunday the 17th May in the Second Round. However, its recent promotion to Hertfordshire Premier League Cricket means Reed will no longer be permitted to field first-team players, which could prove good news for the likes of last year’s runners-up Houghton Main. Their first-round draw involves a visit to Kippax in the West & South Yorkshire portion of the draw. To determine the fixtures, The Cricketer‘s editor Simon Hughes was joined in MCC’s committee room by Middlesex President Mike Selvey, George Redfern from tournament sponsors Pipers Crisps, and Mike Hartwell of the Lord’s Taverners charity. The full draw can be seen at www.nationalvillagecup.com go to MATCH CENTRE, then FIXTURES and click on the Groups. If Reed progresses successfully to the National Round, (Round 5 on the 28th June), we will visit the Regional winners of Essex & Suffolk. Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire – Group 22, Round One – Sunday May 3 Sawbridgeworth v Sharnbrook & Bromham Long Marston v Bye Wheathampstead v Northchurch Preston v Bye Datchworth v Langleybury Hare Street & Hormead v Bye Redbourn v Bye Reed v Bye +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Round Two – Sunday May 17 Sawbridgeworth OR Sharnbrook & Bromham [...]