Reed hosted Hatfield in the North Herts League Division 1 on Sunday, and managed to beat the wet weather to record a 4 wicket victory.
Reed captain Marcus Martin won the toss and invited the visitors to bat first on a slightly damp but good looking track. Hatfield’s opening pair of B. Golder (47) and Shah (14) got them off to a flying start with 32 runs coming off of the opening 3 Overs, helped by some ill disciplined fielding by Reed. However Lee Johnson’s (6-1-21-1) pace was to prove too much for Shah, as he edged behind to Willoughby in the 5th Over. Rupert Martin (8-3-22-2) then got in on the act, taking 2 wickets in 2 balls to remove Waterman (1) and Wynne for a first ball duck. Joe Curk also bowled well, and took with wicket of Whitehead (8) to finish with figures of (6-1-21-1). However, some good batting by R. Golder (35) and some wayward bowling from Marcus Martin and Phil Frenay allowed Hatfield off of the hook.
It was left to Reed’s spin twins, Jason Pallett and Will Dobson, to help remove the remaining Hatfield batsmen. Dobson (6-1-20-1) struck first to remove the dangerous B. Golder after a stunning, if slightly bizarre catch from keeper Robert Willoughby. This signalled the beginning of the Jason Pallett show, as he ripped into the middle order by bowling T. Jakes, and having R. Golder caught by Smith. Marcus Martin then took a good catch in the deep to remove A. Jakes, before Matt Bowles stunned the crowd with a breath taking diving catch to give Pallett his 4th wicket and removing Biggley. Pallett then completed his first ever 5 wicket hall by bowling D. Ward to give him figures of (5.4-0-31-5) and rap up the Hatfield innings on 146.
In reply, Reed’s opening batsmen Ed Blisset (10) and Will Dobson (9) struggled to make much of an impression as A. Jakes and Wynne took a wicket a piece to leave Reed 34-2. However Stuart Smith and Phil Frenay rebuilt the Reed innings with a commanding 70 run partnership, both batsmen playing some delightful shots, with Smith (50) in particular taking no prisoners on his way to a half century. Frenay was the first of the pair to fall, after a mix up led to him being run out for a well made 30. Smith then fell LBW to Biggley as Reed stuttered to 109-4. Joe Curk (6) was then caught behind playing at a wide delivery with the score on 123. However Matt Bowles (19 Not Out), Lee Johnson (13) and Robert Willoughby (0 Not Out) were able to steer Reed home with some sensible batting to hand the home side a 4 wicket victory.
Captain Marcus Martin was unavailable for comment after the game, but sources close to the fielding star claim he was “pleased” to have come away with the victory.
