A good all round team effort, with every Reed player making a contribution with either bat, ball or in the field, led to a comfortable win on a bitterly cold day in St Albans. For a second week Reed lost the toss and OA’s captain decided to have a bowl. Ian Fulk and Steve Lovegrove started steadily; keeping the score board moving at 4 runs an over. The score was on 65 when Lovegrove was unlucky to be caught in the covers for 29. The fielder managing to deflect a drive into the air as he fell over, the ball then landed and lodged in his lap. The Reed batsman continued to score at a steady rate, even after the loss of Richard Robertson and Ian Fulk in quick succession, Fulk losing his wicket after a well constructed 51. George Garrott (16) and Julian Fynn (39) made good contributions but it was young Sam Deville who really attacked the OA bowlers. His knock of 51 not out, consisted of 7 fours and an enormous 6. Matthew Naeem, batting for the first time in the thirds, finished 23 not out. Reed declared on 236 for 5 after 45 overs.
The OA’s batting proved to be stronger than their bowling, after losing one of their openers in the first over to a catch by Garrott of the bowling of Fynn, they continued to keep pace with the run rate. The Reed opening attack of Julian Fynn (6-1-14) and James Hooper (8-0-35) toiled away with little success. It was the introduction of Richard Robertson (8-2-35) and Christian Martin (6-2-34) supported by some excellent catches that brought an end to any chance of an OA’s win. The tail was mopped up by Kieran Willoughby (5-1-7) and Maseeh Naeem (1.1-2-0), with OA’s on 125 all out and Reed winning by 111 runs.
