Reed had the best possible start to their Herts League Division
Two campaign. The only thing that went wrong on the day was they lost
the toss! Reed were put into bat and the opening partnership of Baz
Curtis and Mark Peart set a solid foundation for a big score. Both
moved the ball around both sides of the wicket, and with a mixture of
boundaries and good running put on 128 for the first wicket. Peart
was unlucky to be dismissed only 3 short of a half century when he
edged a ball on to his stumps from Dean. Curtis had already passed 50
by this stage and went to score 129 before being caught in the deep
for 129. He hit 20x 4s and 2x 6s in that total. By now Chris Jackson
was in full flow. He hit a classy 55 not out and with Blissett and
Saunders chipping in a total over 300 looked on the cards, but the
run rate slowed and Reed ended on 282-5.
Would 47 overs be enough for Reed to bowl out Baldock was the big
question at tea! Reed needed an early break through and they achieved
just that when Richard Robertson struck. He removed Saunton for just
2 and Baldock were 5-1. This very quickly became 13-2 as Robertson
struck again. The brought danger man Pintore to the wicket. He looked
in good form, but Mark Peart removed him with his very first ball.
With Robertson and Peart bowling well and the total along way off
Baldock’s batsmen tried to up the pace, but this was to be their
downfall. Both Peart and Robertson ripped through the middle order to
leave Baldock 49-6. Could Reed force home their advantage. Robertson
left the attack with figures of 13 overs, 4-28. He was replaced by
Peter Costen who struck twice in his first over to leave Baldock on
the brink of a heavy defeat. Peart came off with figures of 3-49 from
12 overs and it was left to Martin Seale on claim 30 points for Reed
by bowling Lees for 12. Baldock were 173 runs adrift at 109 all out.
Reed picked up 30 points and Baldock none.
