Reed played another 60 pointer this week against fellow strugglers Letchworth III. Fairfield Park is a lovely place to play cricket and the pavilion improvements over the winter make it even better. Baz Curtis lost the toss and surprised to be asked to bat first. The wicket looked a good wicket to bat first on. Openers Curtis and Fergus Martin battled through some tight opening bowling from Edwards and Kendal. Edwards found some swing from ball one until the end of his 27 over spell. Curtis was the first to go when the score had reached 44 when he tried one to many drives off Edwards and was caught on the boundary for 30.
A run out and 2 more Edwards victims saw the visitors crumple to 66-4 was soon 78-6. Richard Johnson and Roddi Liebenberg put on 41 for the 6th wicket before Liebenberg when for 17, the 4th of Edwards wickets. Marcus Baker joined Johnson who was now in full flow. A mixture of good running and some positive hitting saw them get Reed into the batting points. After adding 44 together Baker went for 22. Toby Fynn came in with the express aim to get Reed to maximum batting points. He was out with the score on 198, but he had helped Johnson reach a fine and much need 50.
Peter Tidey and Johnson saw Reed to 201-9 at the end of their 53 overs. Edwards mammoth spell ended with figures of 27-3-91-4. Johnson was left 58 not out.
In reply Toby Fynn struck early, but after that wickets were hard to find. Peter Tidey removed the stubborn G. Bishton for 11 and quickly accounted for Dovey and Reed looked in total control. Opener A. Bishton looked solid and put the bad ball away. Curry joined him and looked to latch onto any thing short. The pair saw the home side well past 100 and had the game for the taking. William Clarke replaced Tidey and bowled Bishton for 53. Clarke picked up 3 more wickets, but Reed couldn’t remove Curry who had reached his ton. Reed took the game into the last over, but Curry saw the home side to valuable 30 points and was 123 not out. Clarke finished with figures of 4-51 from his 11 overs.
Despite a good haul of 17 points Reed now face a big challenge to remain in Division 6 when they face championship chasing Flamstead next week.
