Reed hosted Breachwood Green in the North Herts League division 1 on Sunday, looking for a winning start to their season having had their first scheduled league game rained off at Hatfield two weeks ago.
In glorious sunshine and with a good looking track at ‘The Green‘, Reed captain Marcus Martin had no hesitation in batting first after winning the toss. Openers Tom Fulk and Joe Curk then set about posting a good total for the home side. Fulk (9) got off to a quick start, hitting two boundaries off of paceman Yassar, before he was removed by Gibbons after a stunning gully catch. Reed then lost Stuart Smith soon after for a duck, leaving them at 19-2 after 5 Overs.
Curk was then joined by Martin in the middle, and the pair began to build Reed’s total. Curk was looking in particularly good nick, as he advanced into the twenties and thirties. A partnership of 42 followed, before Martin was caught and bowled by slow bowler Merchant for 9. This brought the in form Richard Johnson to the crease, and along with Curk, Johnson helped to steady the Reed ship and eventually increase the Reed total. Curk was beginning to find the boundary with alarming ease, and played some sumptuous shots as he reached 50, supported ably by Johnson. The runs kept flowing for Reed, and Curk punished every bad ball, as well as most good balls as he raced towards his maiden century for Reed, brining up his 3 figures with a huge 6. However, getting to 100 did not stem Curk’s run flow, and even after Johnson departed for a well made 35, Curk continued in his brutal but classy run scoring mission. Matt Bowles, Bernie Morse and Lee Johnson all spent some time in the middle supporting Curk in the final 7 Overs, as he reached 150, and then finally a wonderful 167 Not Out carrying his bat for the allotted 40 Overs. Curk’s 167 included six 6’s, 20 4’s and 4 lost balls. Reed posted an imposing 257 for 6 off of their 40 Overs.
In reply, new Reed fast bowler Lee Johnson (8-1-33-1) caused Breachwood all kinds of problems, finding the edge on numerous occasions with little reward. Johnson did however make the breakthrough, bowling Hall for 9. Fellow opening bowler Julian Fynn (6-1-30-1) also impressed, as his good line and length bowling was rewarded with the wicket of Haroon (1) leaving Breachwood in trouble at 14-2. S Johnson and Yassar then shared a partnership of over 50 runs to give the visitors hope, but the introduction of youngster Chris West (6-0-35-2) broke the partnership, West bowling Johnson for 19. West then found Healey’s off stump soon after to leave Breachwood reeling at 72 for 4.
The hard hitting Yassar had blasted his way to 36 before Bernie Morse accounted for him with some clever spin bowling. Morse also bowled the dangerous Merchant (46) and Bashir (4) on his way to figures of (8-1-45-3). Matt Bowles and Marcus Martin also snared a wicket each as Reed attempted to bowl Breachwood out and gain a bonus point to go with their win, however it was to no avail as Breachwood finished 220-9, giving Reed a winning margin of 37 runs.
