The 2nd XI ended their 2011 league campaign with a convincing win against Letchworth. The visitors were put into bat on what looking like a good batting track. Openers Baz Curtis and William Heslam took advantage of some early wayward bowling and had raced to 28 from 4 overs when Heslam was caught off the bowling of Khan. He removed Curtis as well 2 overs later and Reed were 28 for 2. Richard Johnson and Mitchell Cooper looked in good form, but Johnson was caught behind for 11. Letchworth had fought back well pulling the run rate back to four an over.
This brought Roddi Liebenberg to the crease. He and Cooper started to up the pace and brought up the 100 in the 20th over. Liebenberg reached his fifty with some powerful hitting. Only three singles in that 50 and the rest in boundaries. Cooper provided solid support and hit some fine drives as he reached 42. Cooper had looked like a fifty was nailed on, but he chipper one back to Bishton who took an easy catch. The pair had put on 107 for the 4th wicket.
Liebenberg was finally removed for 106, his second ton of the season. Reed were now only five runs short of the maximum batting points with 14 overs left. Marcus Baker hit a brisk 14, but it was left to Rupert Martin, promoted from his usual ten spot and Graham Wilson to see Reed to the declaration. Martin on the brink of all rounder status hit a quick 21 not out leaving him averaging over 100 for the season with the bat. Wilson was 6 not out as Reed declared 4 overs early on 249-7
The track still looked good and Reed wanted an early breakthrough. Mitchell Cooper struck, bowling Eillham for 9. This brought in ex Reed scorer Matt Bridge. He and Melbourne had reached 40 when Graham Wilson tempted him into a drive that was well held at mid off. Keiran Wheeler replaced Cooper. Wheeler looking for five wickets to reach 50 for the season was soon in the action. Bridge had looked solid and was reading the spin well, but Wheeler got past his defences and had him LBW for 37.
Wickets start to fall quickly and from 103-4 it was soon 129-7. Rupert Martin replaced Wilson and had no luck. He had some of the simplest catches dropped, but he finally got his reward picking up 2-39. Wheeler had Young stumped by Marcus Baker for his 5th victim taking 5-28 in 9 overs. Tidey replaced him and bowled Khan for 6 and Reed ran out winners by 97 runs.
In the end Reed 2nd XI were just 13 points away from promotion. A season of what might have beens. A bad July saw them fall to 13th at one stage so to finish 6th was an excellent effort, but really promotion should have been possible and 6th was a disappointment.
