After the loss at Pirton last week Reed III were keen to consolidate their position against unbeaten division leaders Mill Hill Village. On a day it would have suited Reed to lose the toss; skipper Maseeh Naeem won for the sixth consecutive match, and asked the visitors to bat. Kallum Ward (13-2-1-51) and Matt Giblin (8-2-2-27), opened the bowling; Giblin struck in his first over, bowling Lee for a duck.
Ward beat Shar’s bat on a number of occasions and was unlucky not to pick up an early wicket. Just as it appeared that the batsman were getting to grips with the bowling Giblin removed A Potter for 17, who played on to his stumps. Ward then removed Cara for 4 with the last ball of his opening spell, a smart catch taken by the stand in wicket keeper James Hooper.
After 14 overs a bowling change was forced on Reed, the skipper Naeem and Louis Fitzgerald replacing the openers. By now Shar had started to get into his stride and D Potter was striking the ball very cleanly, the Mill Hill total steadily improved. Fitzgerald (9-0-0-37) bowled with little luck but Naeem (9-0-3-41) broke the partnership by bowling Shar (27) and having D Potter (32) caught at mid on. When Naeem had Asif caught in his next over Mill Hill were 106 for 6, Reed could have been forgiven for thinking they were in with a shout. However the Mill Hill skipper Overton (74n.o) assisted by Gajjer (56n.o) showed why the visitors had be undefeated thus far. With some aggressive batting, and the use of agricultural but effective shots the pair took the score to 246 for 6 before declaring after 47 overs.
Richard Barlow and Paul Garrott started the Reed reply in a positive fashion with regular boundaries, with the score on 40 Garrott was the first to go, bowled for 11. Ian Fulk partnership with Barlow only lasted 3 runs before the latter was also bowled for 25. Scott Caine and Fulk then rebuilt the innings, the pair putting on 78 before Caine was out for 35.
An injured Nick Green who had been drafted in at the last minute, played some shots that you won’t find in the manual, certainly not the batting one, in getting a quick fire 27. When he fell Matt Naeem (16n.o) played the anchor role and supported Fulk who moved past his 50. With the Reed score on 203 Fulk was caught on 61, with 44 needed and 3 overs to get them Kallum Ward went out with the instructions to see the game out and avoid a Mill Hill victory.
Ward totally ignored the instructions and with some magnificent strokes which included a superb straight 6 hit 24 in 7 balls. He was run out attempting an impossible run to retain the strike. It was left to Matt Giblin to see the off the last 5 balls of the innings. Reed finishing on 233 for 9. In hindsight Reed could have been a bit more positive in chasing down the score but the fact they were unable to chase down 146 the previous week and thought of giving all 30 points to Mill Hill were factors in the decision making.
