Reed shut up shop as Bergh and Sturdy

Saturday 11th June saw Hoddesdon 1st XI travel to Reed for the first time game of the 2016 season. Having won the toss Hoddesdon elected to bat first on what looked like a hard flat wicket.

Walters and Clarke opened the batting for Hoddesdon and it wasn't long before Reed's ginger opener had the prized wicket of Walters as his off stump went cartwheeling out the ground. Clarke was joined at the crease by an inform Sam Davies but things went from bad to worse for Hoddesdon as Davies was controversially given out caught behind for a golden duck.

South African Neels Bergh back for a second stint with Hoddeson joined Clarke and the duo started to steady the Hoddesdon innings. Clarke was then caught at point trying to cut a rising ball and Todd Sturdy was next to face the Reed attack. With the Reed bowlers tiring, Bergh and Sturdy's patience started to pay off with both batsman hitting balls to all parts of the ground and Hoddesdon went tea in the driving seat.

Fuelled by a lovely spaghetti bolognese, accompanied by jelly and ice cream, Bergh and Sturdy were back at the wicket dominating the Reed bowlers, and soon they both reach their half centuries. With 25 overs still to bat, both batsman put the Reed fielders under pressure with some excellent running between the wicket, turning 1's into 2's and mistakes started to show. Sturdy was dropped at slip and this additional life line spurred him on. He soon reached the 90 with Bergh following close behind. The superlative Bergh fell to a full toss which should have been put in Royston, instead it was caught at mid wicket for 92.

Tyler Burrows did what he does best and bullied the bowling attach smashing the ball all round the park scoring a quick fire 20, whilst Sturdy calmly calved his way to a brilliant century. Sturdy was finally caught out for 113. The rest of the Hoddesdon batting attack chipped in and they finished on 261 from 60 overs.

With a good total on the board, Hoddesdon opened the bolwing with the seam attach of Sam Davis and Bill Thorne. Thorne was the first to strike catching Reeds opener Heslam LBW for 7. Davis and Thorne complimented each other well with a mix of pace, slower balls and bouncers which had the Reed batsman playing and missing. Reeds batsman then fought back as opener William Heslam soon past 50 with the middle order chipping in. Heslam lost his nerve on 95 when he was caught and stumped by wicket keeper Rhys Jones off the bowling of Neels Bergh. Bergh continued to trouble the Reed attach with his leg spin as the Reed wickets started to fall. An excellent one handed catch in the deep from Hoddesdon's very own Ben Stokes, saw Sam Davis dismiss Tidey off the bowling of Rob Walters and it was clear Reed batsman didn't fancy themselves to get the remaining runs.

The shutters came down in the 50th over as the Reed batsman shut up shop with Hoddesdon needing one wicket for victory. Reeds innings ended with them 226 for 9.