A much needed win at home to Northwood III leaves Reed III requiring four points from their two remaining games to guarantee promotion to division 9.
Winning the toss the visitor’s skipper decided to bat first; the Reed opening attack of Kallum Ward (9-1-3-21) and Julian Fynn (13.2-3-3-27) was more than the Northwood openers could cope with. Ward beat the bat on numerous occasions before removing Mackey’s (4) middle stump with the score on 7. Seven runs later Karnick (3) was walking back to the changing room after Steve Lovegrove took a catch behind the stumps off of the bowling of Fynn.
The score had moved very slowly to 24 when Fynn struck again bowling the hapless Dewin for 6. With the rain falling in a steady drizzle, Reed took the pace of the ball with Maseeh Naeem taking 2 for 29 in his 11 over spell and Nick Green picking up 1 for 7 in three overs. Fynn and Ward then returned to the attack to finish of the Northwood innings. The visitors limped to 113 all out in 46 overs.
After a fantastic Ann Garrott tea, the cakes were seriously good, the Reed reply started with Paul Garrott and “Pinch Hitter” Ben Bowles. The score rattled along at a healthy rate and the set target never looked in doubt. Bowles hit 9 boundaries in getting his half century; Garrott played the sensible anchor role. Bowles eventually fell for 61, Northwood’s only point in the match. Garrott (43n.o) and Scott Caine (8n.o) saw Reed home in the 23rd over for a convincing 9 wicket win.
