In an must win game to keep an chance of promotion alive Reed fell well short of required victory.
After winning the toss on a wet wicket and putting St. Albans IIs in to bat, Reed looked in total control when they had the visitors 56-6. Peter Tidey (4-54) and Richard Jerome (4-28) kept St. Albans II under control. Some fine ground fielding by Baz Curtis also helped with a run out, and some excellent catching finally saw the visitors dismissed for 139. With any demons their might have been in the wicket now gone Reed were confident of knocking off the runs. Their confidence looked justified when Tom Fulk and James Heslam had taken the score to 33 without loss from just 6 overs, but then Maqsood sprung to life. He bowled Heslam for 15 and then struck again the very next ball removing Chris Jackson. Baz Curtis and Fulk made positive progress putting on 22 for the 3rd wicket, before Maqsood struck again bowling Curtis for just 9. He then had Smith LBW and again he was on a hattrick. After that Reed had no answer to him. Reed lost 8 wickets for 25, and were all out for just 83 in 25 overs. Only picking up 5 points means they go into next weeks final league game with no chance of promotion. |
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