Record breakers

REED Cricket Club won the Keatley Cup for the twelfth time on Tuesday night - and the fifth year in succession - setting two new records in the competition's 38 year history.

They beat Royston by 44 runs at Therfield Recreation Ground, with Baz Curtis, Chris Jackson, and The Crow's man-of-the-match Phil Le Frenay starring with the bat.

Captain James Heslam praised his side's performance and described Reed's play in bat and on the field as "quality".

He said: "The Keatley Cup is a great cup to win and everyone at the club is delighted.

"To set two records in the process is magnificent and we've now won the competition more than any other club."

The evening started brightly for Reed, with Curtis and Heslam opening well and threatening Royston with a sign of things to come.

However, when Richard Temple bowled the Reed skipper with the score at 25 off five overs, the match was pretty tight.

Then Royston lost a key player in Chris Hooton through injury, managing to get only two overs from one of their key wicket takers.

It was a turning point for the Reed batsmen who hit 69 runs off the next six overs before the powerful Curtis was bowled by Leary for 25.

Jackson (37) and Le Frenay (45 not out) then formed a devastating partnership for Reed with the latter finding the Therfield boundary with ease - including one fantastic six.

With impressive shot selection and running, Reed maintained the pressure and finished their 16-over innings on 143-4, which included 18 wides.

In reply Royston, who have won the competition 11 times in the past, made a decent start, and although they lost captain Craig Holson for just six, after five overs they were on 33-1 and in with a chance.

Paul Miller was Royston's main man and he led the chase with a number of well-taken shots.

However, when he was run out for 25, Royston's innings fell into a rapid decline.

The run rate began to creep above 12 an over, and despite the efforts of Temple (17 not out) the score proved too much for Royston's lower order against a consistent and accurate Reed attack, and they finished on 99-6 off their 16 overs.

Royston player manager Temple said: "Unfortunately we slipped back into our old habits - our bowling was inconsistent, we dropped catches, fielded poorly, and didn't make the right decisions with the bat and in our running.

"Like much of the team, I was disappointed and feel that we could have played a lot better."

Seeing the Reed players collect their winners medals is a sight some of the Royston team are only too familiar with, as the two sides met in last season's final.

Temple said: "Unfortunately a few of our players seem to be building up a good collection of Keatley Cup runners-up medals.

"But we've got to hand it to Reed - their batsmen were clinical and their bowlers spot-on."

Organiser Fred Bendall, who has been involved with the Keatley Cup for the past 10 years, described this year's competition as "another brilliant display of local cricket."

He said: "It was another successful tournament, and it was very pleasing to see so many people watching the final.

"Reed certainly deserved to win, although perhaps if Paul Miller and Craig Holson could have stayed at the crease a bit longer, Royston might have got closer.

"From start to finish the competition has been well-contested, and this was a good match to end it.