Knebworth Park V

Reed Skipper Naeem won the toss and put the visitors in on a damp track, and the Reed opening attack of Rupert Martin and Jason Archer went to work removing the two opening bats in double quick time, Archer bowling his first victim with his first ball. The eccentric Nithya batting at 3 for Knebworth and Inman in at 4 put up a little resistance before Archer bowled Nithya (18) through his legs and had Inman (13) adjudged LBW. Martin also was in the wickets and there was a regular procession of dejected batsman trudging back to the changing rooms.

Archer took his second 5 wicket haul in as many weeks, leaving the visitors on 53 with one wicket in hand. Guy Johnson batting at 10 decided to go for broke, swinging at everything that came within his arc in an effort to post a respectable score. Not pretty but very effective, the ball started to fly to the boundary at regular intervals requiring Reed to set a more defensive field. The tiring Martin was replaced by Julian Flynn and it was Fynn who claimed the wicket of Johnson (33) to bring the Knebworth innings to a close.

It has to be said, the catch at gully by Archer to remove Johnson was outstanding; the ball, hit with some venom, appeared to be over Archers head and on the way to the boundary, when he leapt up and plucked it single handed out of the air. Martin finished with 4 – 37 -17, Archer 5 – 52 – 17 and Fynn 1 – 2 -0.5. Knebworth were all out for 93 of 34.5 overs.

Aiden Swain and Ben Bowles opened the batting for Reed and kept the score board rotating slowly. Bowles was bowled for 8 in the 10th over with the score on 25; this brought Ian Fulk to the crease and along with Swain the pair upped run rate. Swain was now comfortable with the pace of the pitch and moved steadily towards a half century. Fulk also appeared to be in fine form hitting the ball for a colossal six, before he was out, caught at mid off for 20. Young George Garrot joined Swain and saw Reed home to an 8 wicket win, Swain unbeaten on 59.