Reed III’s suffered their first defeat of the season on Saturday, in a low scoring but thrilling game away at fellow high flyers Great Gaddesden.
Reed batted first on a tough and rain soaked track, getting off to a bad start by losing 3 early wickets with the score on only 32. It took big hitters Tom Greaves (21) and Masseh Naeem (27) to help Reed avoid a crisis, with the pair increasing the score to 76-3 at drinks with some lusty blows. However, the drinks break was the signal for another Reed collapse as first Naeem and then Greaves fell in quick succession. As two further wickets then fell, Reed looked to be heading for a sub 100 score at 82-8, until Karl Ward and Rupert Martin came together in the middle. Ward looked in especially good touch as he stroked the ball around with class, ably supported by Martin. The pair put on 40 runs for the next wicket, when Ward was well caught at short mid wicket for a well made and crucial 34. Martin(14) managed to up the Reed score in conjunction with skipper Peter Baker (5 Not Out) but in the end good bowling and fielding meant Reed finished on 138 All Out from 45 Overs.
In reply the hosts began positively and got over the early loss of captain Warren, who was caught well by Ben Bowles off of the bowling of Ward. Great Gaddesden were seemingly cruising, all be it in fairly slow fashion, towards their target of 139. Cheeseman Snr (45) and Crawley (39) were looking well set as the home side made it to 3 figures with only the one wicket down. However the re-introduction of the fiery Rupert Martin did the trick of breaking the partnership, as he had Crawley bowled. When Ian Roberts then had Cheeseman Snr caught, again by Ben Bowles, Reed sniffed an opening for the 1st time. Martin (16.2-3-42-4) and Ward (13-4-20-3) then set about ripping through the Gaddesden middle order, and from a seemingly comfortable position, the hosts were all of a sudden 130-8. However, despite the best efforts of the Reed bowlers and Fielders, Great Gaddesden managed to scrape home, thanks to sensible batting from Cheeseman Jnr and Batty.
