Reed hosted Codicote on Sunday in the North Herts League. After weeks of inactivity due to inclement weather and National Village Cup commitments Reed were keen to return to winning ways. Losing the toss and having to field in the searing heat immediately put Reed on to the back foot, and playing on the truest of Batting tracks wickets were hard to come by. All the Codicote batsmen got a start, Avent 28, Carl Richards 46, and Poulton 45 helped to set the scene for 15year old Luke Richards to smash a fantastic 59 not out. The only real bright spots of the fielding, were the excellent bowling spells of Edward Garrott (8-42-1) and Fergus Martin (6-29-0). The Codicote innings closed on 218-5 off 40 overs.

Reed’s response got off to the worst possible start Matt Bowles bagging a weekend “pair”, but youngsters Martin (13) and Garrott (35) continued where they left off with the ball to add 46 for the second wicket before Martin was caught and bowled. Richard Barlow added a classy 24 with Mike Jackson (36), before falling. Hazzard (10) and Michael Robertson (14) kept up the momentum, so by the time Archer joined Karl Ward at the crease Reed were 170-8, needing 49 off the remaining 7 overs.

The pair were outstandingly calm picking of singles at will and dispatching the 4 ball to such an extent that by the time the 40th over started Reed required just one for victory. Archer calmly played a solid defensive shot to the first ball before creaming the next through square leg like his hero Christopher Jackson to see Reed to victory. Ward was unbeaten on 37 and Jason Archer not out 19. The pair had put on 52 in just 38 balls.
Reed won by 2 wickets