Reed 1st XI raised the stakes on Saturday as they hauled themselves up to eighth in the Hertfordshire League Division 2 as they comprehensively thumped Northwood by 54 runs.

Although starting the game in a higher league position than Reed, Northwood floundered allowing Reed to snatch a 30 point win after a disappointing draw against Broxbourne the week before.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, Reed got off to a poor start as Tom Fulk was bowled with the score on 5. Chris Jackson (32) and James Heslam (30) stabilised the innings, pulling Reed up to 60, until Heslam was unlucky to be caught on the boundary as he attempted to register maximum score off a poor full toss.

Chris Jackson soon followed to R. Latchman (11-2-45-2) by playing onto his stumps. Reed looked to then be struggling on 70-3, but in form Baz Curtis (54) registered yet another fifty for his season, as he sailed past his 12,000th weekend run for the club. Ably supported by an aggressive innings of 26 by Richard Jerome, and some sturdy support from the tailenders Richard Johnson (19) and Stuart Smith (22), Reed registered full batting points by clocking up 212-9 off their 53 overs.

Yet on such a batting friendly wicket, it was always going to be a struggle bowling out such strong opposition, especially as Reed were missing the regular opening bowler Michael Berks. Despite Hussey’s early departure for 9 thanks to some canny old ball bowling from Richard Jerome (21-7-48-4), Northwood’s overseas player C.Deepak (73) played some scintillating strokes to take the advantage away from Reed.

Combined with Rick Sellar’s 28, Reed were struggling as Northwood were on 115-1. However, when Deepak was bowled by Richard Jerome and Will Clarke (6-0-42-2) dismissed Sellars, as well as a subsequent quick wicket of B.Knowles for 10, Reed were back in the hunt. Peter Tidey’s (15-1-57-3) reintroduction into the attack in conjunction with Jerome at the other end spelt the end of the Northwood‚s effort as they slumped to 158 all out off 42 overs.

Reed skipper, Simon Jackson, commented: “I’m over the moon with today’s win. We really fielded well on a pitch which was very difficult to bowl on. Its about time we registered another win, and hopefully we can carry some of this momentum into next week.”