With Reed missing influential bowlers Pete Tidey, Will Clarke and Andrew Emms through injury and holiday, playing against a strong Knebworth Park side led by overseas player Jarrod Turner was always going to be a struggle.

The returning Michael Berks after a 6 week holiday to China got Reed off to a great start taking a wicket in his 1st over. Berks bowled superbly in a tiresome spell on the hot afternoon taking the first 3 wickets for 55 off 16 overs. Turner anchored the Knebworth innings, not really prepared to attack or throw his wicket away until Michael Berks cleaned him up and becoming his final wicket.

However with born again Reed spinner Chris Jackson replacing Berks at the pavilion end, the game started to turn in Reed favour as Knebworth were reached 130 for only the loss of 3 wickets. Jackson used flight and guile to tie the Knebworth batsman down and regularly took wickets through his spell. Jackson claimed the last Knebworth wicket in the 52 over, finishing with career best figures for 13.2 overs, 6 for 49 as the home side finished on 211. In reply Reed got off to a disastrous start losing opener Baz Curtis to a rash shot, before Heslam, Chris Jackson and Frenay departed leaving Reed at 55 for 4.

However Norwich Union employees Tom Fulk and Simon Jackson tried to set about restoring the Reed innings and trying to ensure that they were not skittled out for less than 100. The partnership reached 70 before Fulk was the 1st to go for 42. Jackson followed shortly after but not before he reached his 1st league 50 for 6 years. Despite a few massive blows from Andy Young (22) the loss of a couple more wickets meant that Reed had to shut up shop and play for a draw finishing on 165-9.

Jarrod Turner was the main bowler for the home side as he bowled 18 overs on the bounce of his gentle offspin taking 4 for 49. Simon Jackson was “impressed with his sides bowling, fielding and the stubborn batting of himself and Tom Fulk. It was a shame that another batsman could not get a score, as it would have been a good game to win”. Commenting on the Jacksons performance he said ” we had a quite a good game, 6 wickets, 5 catches and a fifty!” Reed are at home to bottom of the table Chorleywood on Saturday