Reed 1st team travelled to an in-form Northwood last Saturday, looking to end a run of poor results and get their season back on track. According to the weather forecasters it was touch and go as to weather the game would be completed and thanks to a shockingly poor wicket there was never any danger of a drawn game. Obviously the Northwood skipper was unaware as to how poorly the track was going to play, as he won the toss and chose to bat. Reed made a perfect start to the game, thanks to a double strike from Lee Johnson (8-1-34-2) reducing the hosts to 1 for 2. Despite this excellent start and continued pressure applied by the accurate bowling of L. Johnson and fellow opener Graham Wilson (11-3-26-0) a third wicket partnership developed.
With L. Johnson tiring after a spell of hostile bowling, Bernie Morss (13-6-14-2) took over. He, in conjunction with Wilson beat the bat on numerous occasions with the ball gripping on the very dry wicket. The game really changed in favour of the visiting side when Wilson made way for Andy Young (9.1-4-25-6). With the score on 82 the third wicket was taken, breaking a partnership of 81 runs. The next 7 wickets proceeded to fall for just 21 runs, with Morss and Young appearing pretty much impossible to play on this difficult wicket.
Reed knew that they had a hard, yet achievable target to reach. James Heslam and Si Jackson batted with much purpose opening the batting. S Jackson determined to keep the bowlers at bay whilst Heslam played the more aggressive role. It was Heslam (17) who was first to go with the total on 35 when he was caught at slip. The next 4 wickets yielded just 25 runs, as the middle order batsmen struggled with movement off the pitch. Tom Fulk was given out caught behind for 1, Will Dobson was caught and bowled for 4, Tom Greaves struck some lusty blows in his 13 before being caught and Phil Frenay was caught at short leg for 5.
This meant that Reed needed 42 runs with 5 wickets remaining. Richard Johnson came out to join S Jackson, and a key partnership of 20 runs ensued. This was ended when S Jackson who had been the rock of Reed’s innings was a victim of his own success, his quick footwork had kept him at the crease, however when he missed one his feet weren’t quite quick enough to get him back in his ground as he was stumped for an excellent 18. L Johnson was adjudged LBW for 0 which left Reed needing which left Reed needing 13 runs with just 3 wickets in tact. R Johnson was next to go, for a very important 21. Young strode to the crease, safe in the knowledge that he was the cleanest hitter in the 1st team. He swatted a shot over mid-wicket for 6 to get Reed within 3 of victory, but when Morss was out for 2, the balance was tipped in favour of the hosts. However Wilson ably blocked out the rest of the over and Young claimed the 30 points for Reed as a he smashed a huge 6 over cow corner. Reed secured a 1 wicket victory.
