Reed III continued their push for promotion by defeating a spirited Datchworth side on a rain affected day at Freman College. Winning the toss Mas Naeem the Reed Captain invited the visitors to bat. This at first seemed to have been a mistake; the Datchworth batting proved to be able and experienced. The Reed cause was not helped by their fielding performance, four catches going down and the ground fielding not to the usual standard.
Julian Fynn and Kallum Ward opened the bowling; after Ward bowled opener Jay for 4 in his opening spell Datchworth kept the score board moving by running quick singles and hitting the bad balls to the boundary. Reed made regular changes to the bowling in an effort to take wickets but by now Willington was settled in and moved past his 50.
Louis Fitzgerald (7-1-41) replaced Ward and picked up a wicket, Richard Barlow (4-1-27) also chipped in with a sharp caught and bowled and Matt Naeem (7-0-28) was denied the wicket of Willington, when the standing umpire stated he had not heard the very loud edge, when he was caught behind the stumps by Steve Lovegrove. Willington later had to retire hurt on 91 when he was hit on the hand by Fynn, ending up at the QE2 hospital with a suspected broken thumb. Ward (11-1-43) returned for a second spell and with Fynn, who bowled 20 overs picking up 2-50 saw the Datchworth innings to the close, the visitors finishing on 236 for 6 after the allotted 53 overs.
In reply Ben Bowles and Richard Barlow made a good start, easily keeping up with the required run rate. Bowles took his time to settle in and Barlow looked in good form; the score was on 49 when Barlow played at a ball that left him off the seam and he was caught at slip for 30. Julian Fynn continued with his fine run of form with the bat and with Bowles pushed the score to 97, when he was bowled for 25.
Bowles was then joined by 16 year old Scott Caine and it was then that the heavens opened up and there was a torrential down pour. Twenty minutes of play was lost and Reed lost 5 overs in the process. 237 to win was looking more and more difficult. Bowles had other ideas and was now taking the attack to the bowlers; he was ably assisted by Caine who played a very sensible innings.
The pair put on a partnership of 118 and Reed were on the brink of victory when Caine was out for 57, his maiden fifty for the club. Barlow fell on a well made 82 and it was his partnership with Caine that allowed the following Reed batsman to cross the winning line in the 37th over of the 42 allotted after the rain adjustment. Reed finished on 237 for 6.
This win enabled Reed to close the gap to 18 points on first placed Mill Hill Village who managed only a draw, and saw them pull further away from the chasing pack.
