Reed’s 2nd XI travelled to Redbourn hoping to put some poor recent performances behind them. Skipper Baz Curtis won the toss and decided to bowl first on a green looking wicket. This looked like a great decision when Rupert Martin struck in his first over. Their was some swing in the muggy conditions and Martin and opening partner Mitchell Cooper bowled well. Cooper found the edge of Hales’s bat only for Curtis to drop it. After that chances became fewer the ball stopped swinging.
Hales was finally run out for 18. Cooper was replaced by Julian Fynn who was unlucky not to pick up some wickets when he had two catches dropped in one over. Keiran Wheeler replaced Martin and removed opener Irwin when Tidey finally did hold a catch for Reed. Mauder and Bruce put together a good partnership with Bruce playing some attacking shots. Wickets were falling reasonable regularly, but not without a decent partnership inbetween. Wheeler missed a chance to remove Bruce with a caught and bowled that he would normally take easily.
Bruce finally went for 49, but the home side still batted positvely and finally post 194-9 in their 53 overs. Cooper and Peter Tidey both took 2 wickets and Wheeler 3.
In reply Baz Curtis and Fergus Martin put 52 for the first wicket before Martin was run out by his skipper. Curtis finally showing some form reached 56 before being held in the deep. Phil Freney and Richard Johnson tried to keep Reed in the match, but some fine pace bowling from Thatcher kept Reed behind the rate. As wickets started to fall their was only going to be one winner, but Rupert Martin and Marcus Baker held out for the last 6 overs and saw Reed to a draw.
