Reed II continued their poor start to the season when they threw away a great victory opportunity against table topping Totteridge II. The strong Totteridge XI boast a long line of fluent batsman but Reeds bowling and fielding contained them well with Jim Allsopp and Peter Flack bowling a tight line and with good pace. Veteran Reed keeper Steve Dunn rolled back the years with a cameo display which included 3 leg-side stumpings standing up to the pacey Allsopp. Allsopp finished with figures of 6-62 from 18 overs, Flack 2-42 and Jason Archer 2-38 as the visitors were dismissed for 153. This left Reed 64 overs in which to accumulate the 154 required for victory on an excellent batting wicket and fast outfield. Ian Fulk 13 and Peter Baker 20 started steadily but after both were dismissed Jaques Swart and John Heslam took control and Reed looked firm favourites at 80-2. However, the loss of Heslam signalled the start of a dramatic Reed collapse. Swart went for 23 and thereafter only Jim Allsopp 13 and the injured Richard Robertson 12 not out bating with a runner offered any resistance. Reed fell 36 runs short of their victory target. |
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