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A First for the Firsts

When captain Tom Greaves clipped a ball to leg and scampered through for the two runs required to register the First's first win of the season, he must have been reflecting contentedly on winning the toss and inserting West Herts on a drying wicket. As a result, a rampant Ed Wharton scythed through their top order, including the scalp of Sri Lankan international, Perrera, caught skilfully at slip by a diving Rob Lankester. That capped a fine opening spell of 3 for 22 in 11 overs. Toby Fynn then carried on the attack with a mammoth 16-over stint, finishing with 2 for 41 and 5 maidens. He was ably supported by Greaves who took 2 for 51, finally bagging the resolute Zaidi for 52, the first of Sean Tidey's two stumpings. The innings was quickly polished off by Kapil Dave's spin as he tricked the remaining three batsmen into false strokes, conceding just 25 runs. The pick of these was a finely judged catch on the midwicket boundary by Jack Caine. West Herts must have been disappointed with their total of 155 achieved in the final over of their allotted 50, due to a prolonged rain delay at the start of their innings. To be frank, Reed always looked in control of their reply with Will Heslam leading the way, making a fluent 37, including 5 crisply struck boundaries. When he was bowled by the dangerous Perrera, Reed already had 70 on the board as Rob Lankester took over the onslaught, putting on another 50 runs with the watchful Matt Sampson (16). With just 18 needed, Lankester was finally adjudged LBW for a scintillating 74. A measure of his dominance can be gauged by his [...]

By |2021-08-08T09:37:56+01:00August 8th, 2021|Categories: 2021, 2021 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on A First for the Firsts
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Fynn and Catt instrumental in Seconds’ win

Reed Seconds produced another scintillating performance on Saturday against Harpenden Thirds at The Green. Winning the toss, they asked the visitors to bat, both opening spells by Julien Fynn (10-1-30-2) and Charlie Walters (10-0-46-0) were tight. The first wicket fell on 42 when a superb piece of fielding from Fynn ran-out Williams for just 8 off of Walters' bowling. This brought the skipper Newton to the crease and he and opener Gilson built a solid partnership and the run rate began to increase. A short delay led to the match being reduced to 48 overs each, however the Harpenden batsmen continued on. Fynn returned and bowled Gilson for 88 and picked up the wicket of Frost for just 3 in the next over. Newton wasn't to be denied his century and he ended 110 not out and a quickfire 16 not out from Gosling took the visitors to a challenging 264 for 3 in their 48 overs. Reed started like an express train, with 19 off of the first over although Frenay fell LBW for just a single. Jack Caine and Mike Catt took the score to 47 before Caine edged the ball behind, having scored 17, a second wicket for J. Card. Kallum Ward joined Mike Catt and they continued with a run rate in excess of seven an over. Ward assumed the lead role in the partnership and he brought up his 50 off 45 balls before he became J. Card's third wicket with a 53-ball 61. 14-year-old Charlie Walters played a mature knock of 18, playing the short balls extremely well until he fell with the score on 190 in the 30th over. Mike Catt in the meanwhile had reached his fifty [...]

By |2021-08-03T17:53:51+01:00August 3rd, 2021|Categories: 2021, 2021 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Fynn and Catt instrumental in Seconds’ win
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Greaves and Wharton thwart the Whitewash!

After a tense finish on Harpenden Common the Firsts edged a draw to prevent this season being a total whitewash. This was in no small measure due to some excellent individual performances, notably by Tom Greaves and Ed Wharton. A familiar pattern seemed to be emerging when, on a superb batting track, James Latham and 16-year-old Danyaal Khaliid built a chanceless 235-run partnership for Harpenden's second wicket. When Khalid slapped Wharton in his second spell to Greaves at silly mid-wicket for 84 a total beyond 300 appeared inevitable. However, Wharton curtailed Harpenden's ambitions with a typically aggressive spell, exerting bounce out of the placid wicket to finish with 6 for 72 in a total of 271 for 6 declared after 52 overs. This included three wickets in his final over as well as the scalp of Latham for a magnificent 147. Reed replied in customary fashion losing two quick wickets, but Rob Lankester and Greaves repeated their stand earlier in the season against their hosts, putting on 91 invaluable runs. When Lankester was out L.B.W. for a patient 51, Greaves and Wharton took over in more characteristic Reed style, smashing another 68 runs in just 10 overs leaving Harpenden beginning to rue their early declaration. However, with Wharton's departure for 29 Reed's vicissitudes started to show. Earlier Sunil Patil had been drafted into the team to keep Wicket after the late withdrawal of Sean Tidey and Michael Juckes had bravely stepped up for his first team debut as Sam Osborne, last week's top scorer, was suffering from back spasms. Worse was to follow when Patil badly jarred his shoulder when keeping. As a result, the lower order looked particularly vulnerable. Greaves did his best to [...]

By |2021-08-03T17:50:35+01:00August 1st, 2021|Categories: 2021, 2021 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Greaves and Wharton thwart the Whitewash!
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Another Hoddie nailbiter

15-year-old Sam Osborne starred as Reed Firsts slipped agonisingly to defeat against Hoddesdon yet again. After losing the 50-over league match earlier this season by two wickets, Reed repeated the result in the 60-over "timed" format. However, there were times during the game when a much bigger defeat seemed likely. In customary fashion this year, Reed lost three quick wickets, but the innings was steadied by a 62 run partnership between captain Tom Greaves and youngster Sam Osborne. Greaves started patiently soaking up the pressure from the opening seam attack and Osborne followed his example. When the spinners came on for their 39 over marathon, Greaves cut loose making 43 runs before he was adjudged LBW. Osborne remained calm while others perished and at 114 for 8 a paltry score seemed on the cards. At this point he opened up and was last man out for a flawless 58 with one over to spare and 166 on the board. Despite Ed Wharton bowling skipper Rob Walters, Hoddie looked like they would walk the game at 78-1, but the introduction of spinner Kapil Dave made the breakthrough with the help of a sensational catch by Max Sanderson off a steepling skyer at midwicket. Further catches removed the rest of the top order, Dave finishing with 3-46. Greaves (2-45) then chipped-in with a couple of dismissals and when Wharton took two wickets in his returning over Hoddesdon's nerves started to show. Monger, however, guided them home to the disappointment of the Reed faithful. Wharton ended with 3-36 from his 14 overs. Another frustrating result, but an enjoyable, keenly fought game with Reed taking a meagre 6 points from such a closely fought contest. Match report submitted by [...]

By |2021-07-28T06:36:48+01:00July 25th, 2021|Categories: 2021, 2021 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Another Hoddie nailbiter
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Catt and Hughes purrfect in Second Team Thriller

Reed Seconds travelled to Bayford and Hertford on Saturday for their Division 3B Herts. League Match. Winning the toss on a damp, cloudy and humid day, skipper Ed Garrott had no hesitation in putting the hosts into bat. His decision proved to be a good one as the opening bowling attack of Julien Fynn (10-4-13-1) and Owen Hughes (9-2-36-3) extracted bounce and movement in the conditions plus some good ground fielding had reduced Bayford to 19 for 3. Cavener (44) and Bruggemann (34) led a revival as fifty-partnerships were made for the next two wickets. Rupert Martin (8-0-38-1) and Anirudh Sudharshan (10-0-45-2) got amongst the wickets in the middle overs but some useful late runs took Bayford to 191 for 7 in their 50 overs. In reply Phil Frenay and Richard Barlow found the drying pitch more to their liking, Frenay in particular playing shots on both sides of the wicket. He'd taken his score to 42 before he became the first of two wickets for Cavener. Barlow and Kallum Ward soon followed and Reed were wobbling at 67 for 3. Skipper Ed Garrott joined Mike Catt and whilst Catt was happy to play second fiddle, Garrott proceeded to dispatch any loose deliveries with a quick fire 23 off just 22 balls. Then Mike Robertson continued much in the same vain with 30 in 19 balls. However, his wicket left Reed at 136 for 5 in 33 overs. The B&H bowlers tightened the screw and wickets began to fall as the run rate increased. All the while Catt was biding his time, at 160 for 8 with 7 overs left, Owen Hughes came to join Catt at the crease. Both took their chances and had [...]

By |2021-07-28T06:32:23+01:00July 25th, 2021|Categories: 2021, 2021 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Catt and Hughes purrfect in Second Team Thriller
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Sampson too hot to handle for Hemel Seconds!!

Reed Second XI entertained their opposite numbers from Hemel Hempstead on a glorious day at The Green. Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Reed lost Richard Johnson early for just 4. It brought Matt Sampson to the crease and he and Paul Garrott set about building an innings defining partnership. Garrott played the anchor role, whilst Sampson assumed the role of playmaker. Punishing anything lose the partnership raced to 124 with Sampson passing his 50 also. After Garrott fell for an obstinate 21, in came Kallum Ward and he continued the Reed onslaught with Sampson. Sampson reached a deserved century off just 121 balls, before being run out for 104 when bowler Wheeler deflected the ball onto the stumps off a Ward strike with him out of his ground backing up. Michael Robertson joined Ward and they took the score to 245 before Ward fell for 48 off 39 balls. Robertson soon followed for 39 off 26 balls. Despite some late wickets for the Hemel bowlers, Reed ended their 50 overs on an imposing 282 for 8. Reed's opening bowling attack of Jullien Fynn (9-1-31-1) and Owen Hughes (5-0-21-1 ) gave the home side the perfect start leaving Hemel at 13 for 2. Morgan and A Hopkins set about rebuilding the innings but they soon fell behind the required run rate. After a 97 run partnership, the wickets soon began to tumble, Anirudh Sudharshan (10-3-31-2) bowled with zip and accuracy and skipper Matt Bowles (9.5-0-43-3) bowled with his usual guile. 14-year-old Charlie Walters (3-1-11-1) took a wicket with his first ball, one of two catches for man of the match Sampson. Not even a last wicket stand of 37 could prevent the inevitable [...]

By |2021-07-22T07:45:50+01:00July 19th, 2021|Categories: 2021, 2021 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Sampson too hot to handle for Hemel Seconds!!
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Firsts stumble at Totteridge

Fielding a side weakened by absence, injury and isolation, Reed could muster just half a dozen regular first team players. Nevertheless, they battled hard in the heat to earn some bowling points. When skipper Tom Greaves lost the toss for the sixth time in a row, he must have been relieved to hear the home captain decide to bat for a change. This meant his attack could have a sustained period of bowling against a classy set of batsmen. Former Northants batsman, Ben Howgego, (69) and captain Jed Miles (30) established an opening partnership of 80 with some cultured stroke play. Thus it fell to the spin duo of Greaves and Kapil Dave in a 40-over marathon stint to contain the top order to the tune of 134 for 4. However Eoin Morgan's friend, Sean O'Brien (75) and youngster Charles Plummer (47) compiled a century stand, although they survived four sharp chances close to the bat. Dave finished with figures of 3 for 93 and Greaves took 1-74 from their 20 overs apiece. Matt Giblin (1-42) and Toby Fynn (2-25) plus a run-out picked up valuable bowling points at the end to leave Totteridge on 254 for 8. Reed started their reply brightly with Rob Lankester (30) and Will Heslam (19, striking four boundaries), but the introduction of the deadly Iresh Saxena, who took 2 for 4 in his 10 overs earlier in the season spelt the beginning of a slide. His mesmeric spin accounted for three scalps this time and in tandem with Sean O'Brien the innings threatened to subside before reaching three figures once more. Some bold hitting by the tail took the score to 129 however, with Dave 15 not out and [...]

By |2021-07-18T05:28:33+01:00July 18th, 2021|Categories: 2021, 2021 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Firsts stumble at Totteridge
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Firsts face their punishment at the Bar

The Firsts continued their disappointing run with an 8 wicket defeat by high flying Potters Bar. Put in on a difficult, slow wicket, only Richard Wharton (23) managed to tame the Bar's opening attack. Mehta (2-39) and Duke (3-28) tore through Reed's top order so that at 49-5 an embarrassing score seemed on the cards. However, late call up, Stuart Smith (16 not out) dropped anchor while Ed Wharton played his usual swashbuckling innings for 35 runs. Between them they doubled the score. When Chapman turned the ball square though, he ran through the tail in just 5 overs, taking 5 for 9 to leave Reed 120 all out. It took Potters Bar just 27 overs to reach their target for the loss of 2 wickets, but this does not reflect the excellence of Ed Wharton's spell (14-1-46-1). He bowled unchanged, beat the bat time after time with no luck and deserved more wickets: a man of the match performance. Match report submitted by Peter Wholley.

By |2021-07-11T06:32:13+01:00July 11th, 2021|Categories: 2021, 2021 Match Results, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Firsts face their punishment at the Bar
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Captain’s Ton not enough

Reed III travelled to Holtwhites Trinibis 3rds on a small ground and a flat track. Reed skipper Rhodri Hughes won the toss and decided to bowl first looking to chase. The skipper might have looked to regret that decision when Holtwhites got off to a fast start, taking a liking to Owen Hughes (9-0-63-1). However, Joe Graves (9-1-35-2) picked up both openers. Holtwhites then started to build another partnership with Prince and Turner batting nicely punishing the bad ball. Greg Mckinnel (9-0-65-1) then picked up Turner. Holtwhites kept building partnerships, however, Will Archer (8.2-1-37-3) bowled nicely picking up 3 well deserved wickets. Skipper Rhodri Hughes (6-0-38-2) chipped in with a couple of wickets. Reed managed to bowl out Holtwhites for 274 in 41.2 overs, with R.Watson making the tail wag a bit for a well-played 47. The score looked gettable on a small ground and a fast outfield. Reed did not start off well losing Paul Garrott, Kieren Willoughby and Marcus Baker early leaving Reed 26 for 3 after 7 overs. However, skipper Rhodri Hughes came in with Rob Willoughby and started to build a partnership, running hard between the wickets and punishing the bad ball taking the score to 128-3 at drinks, putting Reed in a position to look like they could chase down the score. Rob and Rhodri continued in similar fashion, until Rob was stumped for an excellent 68, with the pair putting on 147 for the 4th wicket. Owen Hughes joined his brother and looked to build another partnership, they kept running between the wickets well and punishing the bad ball. Rhodri brought up his first 100 with a 2 through the covers. Rhodri Hughes then ran himself out for an [...]

By |2021-06-17T12:55:14+01:00June 16th, 2021|Categories: 2021, 2021 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Captain’s Ton not enough
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Archers on target against Pinner

Reed III faced Pinner at the Freman Oval. Pinner won the toss and elected to bowl first on which looked a tricky wicket for batsmen due to the rain the day before. Richard Barlow and Paul Garrott opened the batting for Reed and tried to blunt the new ball attack of Pinner on a difficult wicket to start. However, the excellent bowling of Carter (9-3-28-2) got Richard Barlow out early and Paul Garrott soon followed for 14. Leaving Reed 19 for 2, Rob Willoughby and Marcus Baker started building a partnership taking the score to 55 until Marcus was out caught at point for 22. This brought Mike Robertson to the crease that started to build a partnership with Rob Willoughby with both punishing the bad ball of the spinners. They put on 51 before Rob Willoughby was bowled for a well played 40. This brought Skipper Rhodri Hughes to the crease that decided to up the tempo with Mike Robertson, running well and some big hits from Robertson. They put on 46 in 5 overs until Rhodri was bowled for 13, taking the score to 152-5 off 35. Mike Robertson then followed in the next over for an excellent 60. Reed then collapsed losing wickets cheaply leaving then 171-9 with 6 overs to bat. However, Joe Graves and Jason Archer built a solid unbroken partnership of 34 for the last wicket, punishing the bad bowl, taking Reed to 205-9 off 45. That looked a very competitive score at the halfway point. Reed’s bowling started off well with Owen Hughes (6-0-18-2) bowling Fells in the first over. However, Carter and Dixtt started to rebuild with Carter taking a liking to Joe Graves (9-0-37-0). Owen then [...]

By |2021-06-16T14:57:56+01:00June 16th, 2021|Categories: 2021, 2021 Match Report, Match Reports|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Archers on target against Pinner
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