Reed further strengthened their bid for the Division 3 title and promotion on Saturday, just one year after claiming the Division 4 crown, as they demolished Potton Town by 9 wickets away. Over running the oppositions with 22 overs to spare, Reed remain in poll position above 2nd placed Hertford IIs and 3rd placed St. Albans IIs, who are due to face each other next weekend. With St.Albans IIs losing away at Botany Bay, the chances of a Hertford/Reed promotion combo are reinforced.

Potton demise began as soon as they elected to bat on a bowling friendly wicket with heavy cloud cover and muggy conditions. The Reed bowlers immediately had the hosts reduced to 0 for 1 after opener William Clarke (12-6-27-3) struck in his first over. Despite some emergency work by N.Gradall (10) and A.Webb (14) stabilising the situation, Potton were in dire straits after Michael Berks (13-3-32-2) bowled the former with an unplayable delivery in a spell which was marked by tireless consistency in oppressive conditions. Clarke then succeeded in removing the latter thanks to a magnificent one-handed diving catch by wicket keeper Stuart Smith.

The second round of bowlers then assumed the mantle of responsibility, as Richard Jerome (12-0-35-3), once again bowling with canny flight, managed to snare the top-scorer, M.Waker (33), at mid-on along with two other Potton men. Ever-reliant Reed war-horse, Peter Tidey (16-5-43-1), picked up a single wicket to leave the hosts floundering on 143 for 9 off their 53 overs. Chris Jackson ended the innings with three catches. Potton never threatened to raise the run rate above that which was achieved, and their attempts to accelerate it resulted in poorly executed shots from which Reed took their opportunities.

Smelling victory, Reed openers James Heslam (26) and Tom Fulk (36*) began in blistering fashion, as Heslam struck a collection of majestic pull strokes and cuts to raise the visitors well above the required run rate at 32 for no wicket off 7 overs. An expensive yet successful bowling change saw the introduction of D.Salmon (4-0-23-1), who helped Potton make the crucial breakthrough as Heslam was caught playing a sloppy cut off a long-hop. However, this only brought Chris Jackson to the crease, who in a chanceless innings of 71*, showed the match-winning class of the division two hopefuls by seeing the visitors home with Tom Fulk, fresh from his maiden league half century last week against Hertford IIs and 107 in a Sunday game.

Reed are due to face Bushey away next Saturday in the penultimate league match of the season. After the victory, Simon Jackson commented: “We maintained the class in the fielding, bowling and batting which we have striven for all season. Also, the St. Albans result went our way on Saturday strengthening our quest to win the league, however we are fighting until the end, and are adamant to not act complacently”