A rearguard action by skipper Bernie Morss and Lee Johnson saved Reed’s First XI from defeat at Broxbourne on Saturday. Electing to bat first on a cool day with rain constantly in the air, Broxbourne lost a wicket to the first ball of the innings as Lee Johnson rearranged, Chris Dawson’s stumps. The Home side tentatively set about building a competitive total, despite some good bowling from Reed’s Opening attack of Lee Johnson 8-1-36-1 and last week’s hero Graham Wilson 13-3-31-0. Skipper Bernie Morss brought himself into the attack and immediately removed Glassberg for 35.The lack of pace on the ball unnerved the Broxbourne batting line up with Morss taking a further three wickets leaving him with 18-3-78-4. Only Bailey with a pugnacious 83 holding Broxbourne together. However, with a little over half an hour to tea, Ferguson and Hodgson added 75 vital runs in just 53 balls to take Broxbourne to 228 for 6 in their allocated overs.
Reed were soon in trouble as Liam McKechnie and Chris Jackson were dismissed in successive balls to leave the visitors at 4-2. James Heslam and Tom Greaves set about rebuilding the innings with patence and flair until a contentious lbw decision saw Heslam depart for 25. Greaves tried to take the initiative but soon fell for a gutsy 28, to leave the visitors precariously placed. The home side pressed there advantage and at 82-8 Reed looked as if they had nothing left to give. However, they didn’t bank on the two left handers of Lee Johnson and Bernie Morss dropping anchor and saving the game with an unbeaten 31 partnership to save the game, Reed ended on 113-8 and picked up six bonus points in a yo-yo game.
