Reed maintained their composure ahead of their NVC semi final with a comfortable 6 wicket win over Abbots Langley on Saturday. Batting first the home side had no answer to Reed’s persistent attack, with both lee Johnson and Jack Tidey causing trouble from the off. It was Tidey (5-20) however who stole the show, picking up all 5 of the first wickets, including a sublime catch in the slips by Chris Jackson.
The versatile Tom Greaves then mopped up the tail with his usual consistent array of flight and guile along with a wicket a piece for Callum Ward and Mitchell Cooper, leaving Abbots Langley all out for 123.
In response, Reed acknowledged the importance of winning the match and made slow but steady headway despite losing Will Heslam and Tom Greaves cheaply. Both James Heslam and Chris Jackson moved the score onwards untroubled, however a shift in game plan influenced by the very effective Parth Mehta saw Reed slow up the run rate.
When Heslam (34) fell this bought Marcus Martin to the crease who batted with slick composure in a fine innings before he went for one big shot to finish the game and was bowled by Mehta for 32. Jackson remained unbeaten on 48 to see the side home and put Reed in 2nd place in the league in close contention with the leaders Luton Town.
