Reed extended their unbeaten league run again on Saturday by registering a third consecutive victory over Eversholt by 9 wickets. Reed lie top of League Division 2, 20 points clear, and showed clear signs of even more improved consistency, particularly in the bowling department, as they dismissed Eversholt of a mere 73 runs. It was marked notably thanks to 5 wickets from Andrew Emms in the space of 10 balls which included a hat-trick.
Even though Reed lost the toss, and were asked to field, Eversholt could not have got off to a worse start, as Peter Tidey’s (13-6-22-1) probing and accurate spell of swing bowling pinned down the openers. In conjunction with an increasingly belligerent and accurate display by Graham Wilson (13-7-23-3) sharing the new ball, the pair dismissed the top four batsmen for 19 runs with Wilson making key breakthroughs at key points. With Eversholt struggling on 19-4 after 16 overs, T Wisson (28) and L Presswell (15) were patient and grafted hard against accurate bowling to drag the score to 56. However, when Wilson and Tidey both took a rest, William Clarke (5-0-12-1) took the key wicket of Presswell LBW to create an opening into the lower order.
Andrew Emms (5-0-12-5) took full advantage of this as he continued to remove Wisson, Nicholes (0), Litchfield (9) and Macmillan (0) within the space of three balls, also thanks to a sharp stumping from Simon Jackson down the leg side. Morgan and Avis at number 10 and 11 failed to make any further runs as Emms in the following over removed Avis, again thanks to a sharp catch by Simon Jackson.
Eversholt had crumpled to 73 all out after 35.5 overs, and it took Reed only 17.5 overs to reach the total. Michael Curtis (49*) and James Heslam (15) managed to make early inroads into the attack as Avis (6-0-29-0) and Macmillan (4-0-14-0) failed to capture an wicket. They were further hampered by 2 huge sixes struck by Curtis in the chase.
Eversholt’s only breakthrough was when Heslam was bowled attempting a pull shot to a ball that kept very low, but it was in vain as Chris Jackson (3) joined Curtis to reach the total and secure Reed’s 30 points. Eversholt only gained 1 point.
James Heslam, Reed’s 1XI skipper, commented: “This was a convincing and welcoming victory for us. We have had a great start to the season, and I think today signified the best we have played this year. The bowlers maintained an impeccable line and length, and it brought rewards – we were all delighted for Andy Emm’s hat-trick. His bowling perfectly complemented the beginning platform from Tidey and Wilson”
