A high scoring draw was the result of the contest between Reed and Chorleywood thirds.
Reed Captain, Maseeh Naeem, won the toss and decided to bat first; he was acutely aware that the opposition had posted a score of 250 plus the previous week and needed his batsman to get a big score. Paul Garrott and Fergus Martin opened but in the third over Garrott had to depart the crease after being caught at slip with the score on 11. Ian Fulk joined Martin and the pair put on 63 runs before Fulk was bowled for 16. Martin batted with confidence and appeared untroubled at the crease, some elegant shots to the boundary kept the Reed score ticking over. The run rate really accelerated when the in form Julian Fynn went in at four and the pair put on a very positive 90 runs before Martin was out for 68. Ben Bowles arrival at the crease kept the score heading towards a very competitive total. When Fynn was out for a wonderful 87 and Bowles fell on 34 the Reed innings came to a close on 259 for 7 after the allotted 53 overs.
Reed’s bowling was weakened by the promotion of the thirds top wicket takers; Rupert Martin promoted to the two’s and the ever dependable Jason Archer to retirement. Lewis Fitzgerald and Matt Giblin opened the bowling and persevered under the onslaught of the Chorleywood opening batsman. Their skipper Dare was especially brutal when the young Reed bowlers strayed a fraction in line or length punishing them with shots to the boundary. Giblin and Fitzgerald were taken out of the attack, with the skipper introducing himself and Fynn (14-1-1-57) to the bowling in an effort to slow the run rate. This was marginally successful, Fynn bowling Sayers for 26 with his second ball. However Dare was still at the crease and the target of 260 did not appear as daunting as Reed would have hoped.
The score was into the 140’s when the second wicket fell to a run out by Fynn. Fergus Martin replaced skipper Naeem and picked up a wicket in his 7 overs for 37 runs but Chorleywood had plenty of overs and batsman especially with Dare at the crease and nearing his century. Matthew Naeem was given the opportunity to bowl leg spin and after conceding a few boundaries managed to have Dare stumped for 113. This wicket slowed the run rate down and for the first time Reed looked like they were in with a shout. Lewis Fitzgerald (10-1-2-47) and Matt Naeem (5-0-2-30) bowled at the death picking up two wickets apiece to ensure Chorleywood were 11 runs short of their target, finishing on 249 for 7 after 47 overs. This meant both teams picked up 17 points each in an thrilling game.
