Reeds fourth eleven were in dire need of a win to keep their promotion chase alive and facing bottom of the table North Mymms V’s that victory was likely. However, Reed did not make the best of starts. Having won the toss Reed captain Peter Baker decided to bat first at the Freman College ground. The damp track certainly made a profound impact on the game and by the sixteenth over P. Baker was batting with Ward and Reed were in trouble on 28 for 4.
The pair then showed their experience and skill as they re-built the Reed innings. Baker went pass 50 and then pass 100 as he finished on 119 not out and Ward, who had supported Baker as hit the ball cleanly (16×4 and 2×6), shared in the glory as he too made fifty before becoming Gregory’s final wicket (15-2-46-5). Reed declared after 45 overs on 209 for 5, with Baker and Ward setting yet another fourth eleven record partnership for the fifth wicket of 174.
It did not take long for Reeds bowling talent to start taking wickets and with the exception of Topham (18) and Lawless (17*) no one else of the young North Mymms side got pass 5. All bowled well as the wickets were shared amongst Alex West (6-1-13-2), Oliver Smith (6-1-10-1), Will Kirby (5-2-15-2) and Nick Green (5-2-17-1). North Mymms were finally bowled out in the 26th over for 60 runs, Ian Roberts cleaned up the tail finishing with the average- helping figures of four wickets for no runs from just nine deliveries. With only two games remaining Reed need two more wins to stay in contention for promotion.
