After some un-wanted pre-match stress Reed’s Sunday Seconds made the journey down to North Enfield for a 40/40 friendly. Reed fielded having lost the toss. Reed started well as brothers Alex and Chris West opened the bowling, Alex (8-3-10-2) struck early having one batsman caught behind by keeper Marcus J.E. Baker and then followed this soon after taking out another with middle stump. Will Kirby and Christian Martin then took over and continued in the same form, Martin (7-1-34-1) took a wicket whilst Kirby showed impressive skill taking two in two balls and then a third soon after and a fourth in a returning spell, he finished with figures of 7-2-14-4. Matt West (5-2-16-1) and Peter Baker (1-0-4-1) also struck and there were some brilliant catches by Graham Hazard, A. West and M. West. Meanwhile, hosting captain D. Macceson gave a vital knock of 56 to take North Enfield to 144 for 9 from their 40 overs.
Due to unexpected drop outs Reed were forced to accept the polite offer of a substitute, fortunately he was a class bat and Chris Gilman joined P. Baker out in the middle. Both made aggressive starts. Gilman (48) and Baker (36) made 68 for the first wicket, then John Kershaw (15) made vital runs to take Reed closer to their target. But it was M.J.E. Baker who took Reed over the finishing line, smashing an undefeated 36 in only 16 balls (4×4 and 3×6), in only the twenty second over. Reed winners by 6 wickets.
