With rain affecting most of the games this Saturday it was important for Reed III’s to win at Abbots Langley to keep up the pressure on the top teams. Loosing the toss Abbots decided to bat first. Lewis Fitzgerald and Matt Giblin opened the attack and were soon into the openers with one early wicket each. Paul Garrott caught a threatening Noonan off Gibiln whilst Steve Lovegrove caught his team mate off Lewis Fitzgerald, before Giblin again struck bowling Abbots number three.
Fitzgerald 6-0-29-1 made way for Kallum Ward who began impressively taking two wickets in two balls in only his second over. At the other end Giblin 7-0-5-2 made way for William Heslam who did not take long to register his first wicket. Ward and Heslam cleaned up the remaining wickets for very few runs with Heslam finishing on 5-0-10-2 and pick of the bowlers Ward finishing with excellent figures of 6.1-0-18-5. Abbots all out for 71 in 24.1 overs! A mere 72 to get!
Paul Garrott square cut to point third ball – 0 for 1. Three balls later and Julian Fynn was harshly adjudged LBW for 0, score 2-2. Four balls later William Heslam out LBW for 1, score 4-3! The introduction of Richard Barlow and Graham Wilson saw them steady the innings and although each found the going difficult at times they managed to take the total to 49 for 3 at tea. After the break and just before the heaviest rain of the game Graham Wilson steered the ball to third man to hit the winning runs – unfortunately just missing his first League 50 by one ending on 49 not out. Richard Barlow at the other end finished on 18 not out. A valuable win and 30 points gained.
