Cheshunt

Visiting skipper Sam Stephenson had no hesitation in putting the home side into bat. Curtis and Fergus Martin opened and survived an excellent spell of seam bowling from P. England who exploited the conditions and on another day could have had a hat full of wickets. Curtis was putting the bad ball away from the other end and had raced to 26 before a leading edge was skied to mid wicket where he was well held.

The run rate was slow, but steady as Martin and Phil Freney tried to see off the new ball. The pair had put on 42 before Martin was caught behind for a patient 19. Richard Johnson came to the crease and looked to be aggressive. Both plays took time to adjust to the spin of Stephenson, but boundaries came a regular intervals. Both looked well set and Reed had got 100 without too many scares.

Stephenson struck again to remove Freney for 37 and at 115-3 with 17 overs to go and challenging total looked possible. S. England had other ideas. He ripped throughout the rest of the Reed batting taking 5-41 in 14 overs. Reed were shout out for 142. Johnson top scoring with 39. None of the last 7 Reed batsman made double figures.

Reed needed quick wickets to put the league leaders under pressure, but despite the run rate being slow wickets didn’t come. Rupert Martin was the first to strike when he had Warboys caught at mid wicket. Cheshunt decided that taking no chances was the way to go and the run rate was very slow. Ward went for only 6 runs in his 7 overs.

Wheeler replaced Martin and again the visitors found him hard to get away. Overs shouldn’t have been a problem, but it was getting tight. Wheeler struck twice to leave Cheshunt 67-3. Skipper Stephenson came to the crease and with some sensible aggression put any run rate nerves to bed. He hit 52 not out despite Reed picking up another wicket with 40 runs needed.

In the end Cheshunt got home with 4 overs and 6 wickets to spare.