First team fall just short of second place

SHL Division 2

Dunstable 238 (53 overs)

Reed 226 (46.2 overs)

Dunstable won by 12 runs

REED were denied promotion to Division One after a 12-run defeat on the last day of the season on Saturday.

Reed needed to win and hope second placed Cockfosters slipped up. Unfortunately, neither was the case come end of play and they face another season in the second tier after what has been a largely successful season for the first team.

Dunstable amassed 238 runs from their innings, with bowler Tom Greaves taking a highly impressive 6-84.

In reply, Will Heslam and Liam McKechnie got off to an excellent start by putting on 84 in 11 overs. Number three batsmen, Chris Jackson, hit a terrific 75 as he and Heslam (53) chipped away at the run-rate.

However the match soon turned in Dunstable’s favour and Reed required 69 from the last 10 overs with four wickets remaining. It wasn’t to be, though, as Dunstable dismissed Reed who were 12 runs short of the target. A valiant effort by the home side, who will feel take small consolation from the fact they still wouldn’t have been promoted had they won the match.