Reed played their third fixture of the weekend against Hitchin based Preston. The first and second team unfortunately tasted defeat in their opening Hertfordshire league fixtures on the Saturday but Richard Barlow took a strong team featuring players from various XI’s for the Sunday friendly fixture there. Having scored 74 for the second team on the Saturday the ball was thrown to Mitchell Cooper to begin the bowling and he made it a weekend to remember with a devastating opening spell that accounted for the first four batsman. Barlow could not have hoped for a better start with Preston toiling on 9 for 4. Cooper was supported by young County bowler Walsingham who showed maturity beyond his age to end with figures of 0-8 from six overs. The ball was then given to J. Tidey who had bowled from the same end on Saturday. He disposed of the Preston captain and ran close to Coopers four wicket haul with 3-10. Preston stuttered to a respectable 146 all out courtesy of some lusty blows by Hill (67). Wheeler (1-13) and Peckett (1-17) were the other Reed wicket takers and bowled subsequently bowled very productively. Matt Bowles followed up his hundred against Barley by importantly running out Preston’s last batsman to give Reed every chance of chasing the 147 needed for victory.
Many people may well have assumed that opening pair McKechnie and Greaves would not get Reed off to a productive reply as both were treated to an array of hot and cold food at tea-time and stumbled out somewhat uncomfortably to face the first ball. Six overs later those fears were unfounded as the pair bludgeoned 42 without loss. Greaves (25) scored what can only be described as a humongous six before being caught trying to replicate that very same shot. It was his partner McKechnie (93*) though who shared Sunday’s limelight with Cooper to give Reed their first victory of the weekend over league rivals Preston. The Australian over-seas player returning for his second season was unfortunately involved in a mix-up with Frenay (23) who was run-out in what can only be described as McKechnies quest for a century. All in all though it was an enjoyable game played in a friendly manner in yet more of this Spring time sunshine we are seeing….long may it continue.
