Having suffered heavy defeats by batting first in their two previous encounters with Granta in this Transitional League format, Reed won the toss and inserted the opposition this time in the hope fortunes might change. In that Reed secured a comfortable draw, the plan worked. What was not anticipated however was the fact that the Granta opening pair would bat all afternoon without being parted. Johnny Atkinson, (103), and Marcus Coleman, (104), each reached centuries before the innings closed. Only once each did they offer a chance but otherwise they batted sensibly on a flat, slow and low pitch at the Cambridge University Press ground. The figures for the un-penetrative Reed bowlers were almost all similar as the Ward brothers, Karl & Keiran, Marcus Baker, Davis Hill and Fergus Martin all went for 0 for 30-something.

Reed’s reply was built on the opening stand of 61 between Fergus Martin, (28), and Roger Bowcock, (15). Maseeh Naeem gave much needed acceleration as he scored 35 but the introduction of all-rounder Atkinson in a bowling role, (after already having kept wicket for 20 overs on top of his century), slowed things down again. Karl (KJ) Ward and Paul Garrott each reached 10 in the gathering darkness, and although opening quick bowler Sutton was brought back for a second spell that enabled him to pick-up a third wicket, the keen-eyed Keiran (KK) Ward, (31 not out), showed good temperament as he safely guided Reed to a worthy 165 for 7 at stumps.