Reed got back to winning ways and maintained their position one off the leaders in the Herts Div 2 with a one wicket victory over Ickleford. Reed won the toss and elected to have a bowl, but found early wickets hard to come by.
Millwood and Edwards put on 79 for the first wicket before the introduction of Chris Peckett saw the break through. Peckett (3-43) and Tom Greaves (5-40) bowled superbly in tandem, which saw the pair pick up three and five wickets respectively.
Ickleford’s innings limped along past the 150 mark thanks to some hard hitting from Mason, but it was the reintroduction of Lee Johnson which finished off the tail, leaving Reed to chase 177 to win the game.
In reply, Reed started well with both Heslam and Greaves looking in fine form. Greaves was adjudged LBW with the score on 36, which gave Ickleford the impetus to attack and pile the pressure on the Reed batsman. Chris Jackson joined Heslam at the crease and between them they settled the ship, before Heslam was bowled by excellent delivery from Robinson (3-75) for 29. Reed’s middle order then managed to hit the fielder on three occasions which saw a mini collapse, however Jackson and Ed Garratt batted well under pressure to move the game firmly into Reed’s hands.
The partnership was finally broken when Marsden (5-71) sneaked the ball past Jackson’s defences with the score on 148, with Jackson making an important 54. Ed Garratt (44*) then took charge of proceedings, wining the game with a maximum to see Reed home, despite losing a couple of late wickets.
