Reed’s 2nd XI travelled to North Enfield last Saturday for their last warm up match before the league campaign starts. Skipper Baz Curtis won the toss and decided to bat on what looked like a flat pitch. This didn’t look like a good decision when after only 5 overs Reed found themselves 7-2, with both Curtis and Phil Freney back in the pavilion. Peter Baker and Richard Johnson looked to repair the damage. Baker was finding angles to the boundary seldom used, but it was effective and runs were coming at a good pace. Suddenly Johnson was bowled by Atkins for 19 and in his next over had Marcus Baker caught at slip. Baker Snr was caught behind in Atkins next over and suddenly from a decent position Reed were 71-5.
Then came an excellent rear guide action from George Garrott and Steve Lovegrove. They put on 98 for the 6th wicket. Garrott score 11 boundaries in his 63 before he was caught. He played some glorious shots through the covers and it was a deserved 50. Their were still 10 overs left when Garrott departed and Lovegrove was determined that Reed would have a total to bowl at. He hit seven fours and two sixes on his way to 77 not out. With the help of Lewis Fitzgerald (7) and Julian Fynn (9), Lovegrove pushed the score to 239-9 after the allotted 45 overs.
In reply North Enfield never looked in any trouble. Reed had one chance to remove Skipper Halley, but missed it and he went on to get 100 before retiring. Jason Archer broke the opening partnership when the score was on 81, but the pitch held no demons for the batsman. Lewis Fitzgerald bowled well and was the unlucky bowler having Halley dropped at mid on. Julian Fynn got Reed’s second wicket with only 8 need to win which North Enfield duly got soon after and completed a well deserved 8 wicket victory.
