On a very hot Saturday afternoon at Freman College, Reed CC 3rd XI came up just short in a hard-fought Division 13 East encounter on Saturday, falling to an 11-run defeat against Hatfield Hyde, in a low-scoring contest that swung back and forth throughout the afternoon.

After losing the toss and being asked to field in the heat, Reed produced a good all-round bowling performance to dismiss Hatfield Hyde for 124. The ever dependable, for early wickets, Ollie Kimsey (1-18) and Matthew Jackson (1-23) didn’t disappoint with them both taking early wickets. Pressure was on Hatfield Hyde throughout whether from the bowlers Liam Nash (1-14), Chris Cooper (2-13), Andy Kimsey (2-21), Greg McKinnell (1-10) and somehow wicket less Zak Rouse who bamboozled the batters with his spin. And from good catches and a great run out from Aaron Nash. The innings was finished off when all-rounder, Ethan Fox took a wicket with his first ball.

At the break, with the target set at 125, Reed were pretty confident and after getting off to a positive start to the chase with Chris Cooper (11) and Richard Johnson (25) and looked well placed at 42-1. Hatfield Hyde fought back strongly with a decisive middle-order spell that reduced Reed to 55-5 and shifted the momentum firmly back towards the visitors.

Greg McKinnell, joined Ethan Fox, to offer some resilience but after Greg fell for 14, it felt the writing could be on the wall, with the rest of the batters having hardly batted all season. Ethan continued with a determined knock of 41, with maturity beyond his age, to keep Reed in contention, showing composure as wickets continued to tumble around him. The game remained in balance until deep into the innings, but Hatfield Hyde held their nerve in the closing stages to bowl Reed out for 113 and secure a narrow victory.

Despite the disappointing result, captain, Chris Cooper, said “there were many positives for Reed to take from a spirited bowling display and a contest that could easily have swung the other way on another day. Ethan batted exceptionally well, and a league 50 is around the corner. It was a shame despite getting starts out more senior batters couldn’t support him to the end”.