On Sunday Reed hosted Titanic in the Herts League, looking to avenge their shock defeat to the visitors in last years campaign.

Titanic won the toss and unsurprisingly opted to bat on Reeds superb wicket. However Titanic were soon regretting that decision as Richard Johnson tore into their top order with an impressive and hostile spell of fast bowling taking 3 wickets in the process. Johnson’s opening bowling partner Rupert Martin was also impressive, bowling a quick and accurate spell taking the wicket of Smith, and in combination with Johnson had Titanic flailing at 32 for 4.

It took an aggressive partnership from Coousey (24) and Maskell (23) to allow Titanic to recover to 86-4. Marcus Martin then held on to a tough chance, albeit after spending a few seconds juggling the ball, off of the bowling of Dan Champion to remove Maskell. Champion followed this up by removing Coousey’s off stump in the same over to swing the game back in Reed’s favour. Reed legend Clive Collins then took a brace of wickets in another good tight spell. Captain Jason Archer toiled however, and despite some not so subtle changes of pace, remained as wicket-less as he did on Sky Sports’ Cricket AM calypso cricket challenge. Archer did however have an impressive ER, and should take heart from that. Titanic finished on 119-8 off of their allotted overs.

Reed sent out promising young batsmen Fergus Martin and Matt Bowles in their quest to chase down the runs, and with both players playing some exquisite attacking strokes Reed raced onto 17. Martin was then adjudged to have been LBW in what looked a close decision. This brought his older brother Marcus Martin to the crease, and taking encouragement from Bowles’ stroke play, Martin ditched his usual defensive style and began to take the attack to Titanic. The good looking pair put on 69 runs before Martin was harshly given out LBW despite a big stride, for 40.

In form Karl Ward then joined Bowles at the crease, and despite a nervy start began to find his rhythm and helped edge Reed ever closer to victory. With Ward in the mood to round the game off quickly, it was left to Bowles to play his way sensibly to good 50 (not out), before Ward (21 not out) finished the game off with a trade mark boundary giving Reed an impressive 8 wicket victory in their push for promotion.