With their strongest batting line-up for many weeks, Reed’s plans to score a massive total had been disrupted by Bushey’s Patel and Cawthorn and after 25 overs Reed were reeling at only 72 for 6. Luckily, Kallum Ward batting at number 8 knuckled down and accompanied by Richard Robertson added 124 in the next 17 overs allowing Reed to close their innings on 214 for 7. Ward had scored a super 66 and Robertson was left undefeated on a fine 74.
Chris West struck early-on removing one opener in his first over then adding the number 3 soon after. Ward was too quick for the batsmen and beat the bat many times although when he found the edge, these flew down to third man at pace. Leg-break bowler Rhodri Hughes replaced Ward and was rewarded for an excellently flighted spell when John Kershaw stumped opener Asif for 29 in the 29th over of Bushey’s reply after being all at sea against the young spinner.
Meanwhile, George Garrott bowled a tight offside line and good length at pace from the southern end and these two pulled back the run rate. Reece Fitzgerald chipped-in with a wicket in his spell but young Chris Sleeman and experienced Rothwell accelerated the rate when the end was in sight. Rothwell was 23 not out but Sleeman raced past his century with some hard-hit boundaries and ended on 120 not out as Bushey got home with 6 wickets intact.
Although defeated, Reed notched-up a healthy 14 points but still require a couple of maximum thirties from their remaining 6 matches to be safe from the relegation zone.
