Reed III winning run came to an abrupt halt away to a 12th placed Pirton on Saturday. Arriving with a strong team, the Reed skipper Maseeh Naeem again called the coin toss correctly and decided to the stick with the strategy that had served the thirds well over the course of the season; Insert the opposition, bowl them out cheaply and win the match. The plan appeared to be working, although the Pirton skipper Howard (33) went after the Reed opening bowlers Giblin (9-3-0-27) and Fitzgerald (9-0-2-39). Fitzgerald was unlucky not to get a wicket with his first ball when an easy chance for a catch was put down at square leg.
The first change after 10 overs made a difference; Kallum Ward (11-4-3-12), who bowled with a lot of pace, along with Graham Wilson (7.4-3-2-14) returning to bowling after injury, saw the run rate slow and wickets fall. Julian Fynn (9-5-2-7) bowled with economy and picked up two wickets in his spell. Matt Naeem (5-1-1-22) supported the seamers with some spin.
This allowed Fitzgerald, Ward and Wilson to return for a second spell and finish off the Pirton innings after 50.4 overs, the hosts posting a score of 146 all out. In Steve Lovegrove’s absence, Ben Bowles stood in as wicket keeper and although he did a first-rate job, Pirtons top scorer was extras, 34 being conceded by Reed.
On any given Saturday Reed III would have backed themselves to chase done 146 in 49 overs. Ben Bowles, bruised and aching after his wicket keeping exploits opened with Richard Barlow and the pair made a slow but steady start. Barlow (10) was the first to depart adjudged LBW with the score on 25. Ian Fulk joined Bowles and again the partnership was slow and steady, the Pirton bowlers bowled a tight line and length and made scoring difficult.
When Bowles was out bowled for 24 with the score 51, it still appeared that Reed had the upper hand with wickets and overs in hand to reach their target. Pirton had other ideas and the Reed batsman could not find that one good partnership that would have seen them home. The Reed anchor Fulk went for 21 and although, Fynn (10), M Naeem (12) and KL Ward (15) attempted to push on, wickets went down and Reed were bowled out for only the second time this season, 23 runs short of the target in the 39th over.
A bad day at the office for the thirds and not the best preparation for the visit of the unbeaten league leaders Mill Hill Village next week. Pirton to their credit bowled well and kept an attacking field throughout, deserving the win and the 30 points. Reed III remain 2nd in Div 10 and with the games remaining should nab one of the promotion slots.
