Reed’s 2nd XI secured a very good win away at Hemel Hempstead III in their latest Saracen’s Herts League game. Losing the toss and being asked to field didn’t look the worst outcome as Kallum Ward found some excellent seam movement early on. He was unlucky to not find the edge of the bat on numerous occasion in his opening spell of 7 overs for just 20 runs. It was in opening partner Will Clarke who made the break through when the score was on 39 bowling Allen for 8. The run rate was slow, but Reed never really looked like rolling through the home side.
Mitchell Cooper replaced Ward and in his final over he removed Elbourne for 46 finding the edge of his bat and Sean Tidey did the rest. Another solid partnership put on 52 and at this point it looked like Reed could be chasing a big total. Roddi Liebenberg came into the attack and took a sharp caught and bowled to leave the host 133-3. Peter Tidey then got in the act having Reader stumped for just 1. Hemel had reached 154-4 before Ed Garrott came into the attack. He immediately struck bowling Raval for 45. He looked like he could have upped the run rate and it was a vital wicket. Tidey picked up another wicket and Garrott struck again to suddenly give the visitors a sniff of bowling out Hemel. At 155-7 Frebbrey had other ideas and along with Braggins put on vital runs at the death. Garrott finished with 3-28 in his 6 overs. Reed were left to chase down 205 of 47 overs.
Skipper Baz Curtis opened with Stuart Smith, and quickly lost Smith adjudged caught behind for a duck. This brought Ed Garrott to the wicket and along with Curtis put on 102 for the 2nd wicket. Garrott was the far more fluent against the old ball attack used by Hemel. They soon had spin on a both end hoping to get Reed behind the run rate. Garrott had other ideas frequently putting the bad ball away. Curtis slowly got to grips with the bowling and started to find the boundary regularly. Hemel decided to take the new ball, but by now Reed’s pair were set and took full advantage of the harder ball. Curtis finally caught Garrott and reached his fifty first. In the very next over Garrott joined him.
Curtis was bowled with the score on 102 and Garrott followed 23 runs later for an excellent 65. Reed were now well in front of the required rate and it was just a matter of being patient and not losing wickets. Richard Johnson along with Tom Fulk. put on another 35 before Fulk went for 16. Reed had moved along steadily, but runs were coming more slowly now. Johnson decided it was time to accelerate again and moved to his 50. Batting with Roddi Liebenberg they moved Reed to within 4 of victory when Johnson was bowled. Liebenbury hit the winning runs with 4 overs to spare and another good 5 wicket win for the 2nd XI.
