Reed returned to winnings ways this week with a comprehensive victory over Shenley Village. After the miserable weather of last week and the draw the week before that, Reed were anxious to get their campaign back on track. Reed won the toss and bowled first, Chris West (7-1-26-2) took the first wicket with C. Kelly playing on, the ball gently rolling back on to his stumps. He soon took the second thanks to a good catch down the leg side by keeper Marcus J.E. Baker.
Their number 3 W. Burr (39) then made a partnership with A. Smith (19), Burr hitting anything short straight to the boundary. Reed captain Peter Baker then changed the tempo with first change bowler Ben Bowles whose gentle action took pace off the ball. Burr could not figure out how to play Bowles and was soon caught by George Garrott in the gully. Garrott was also a first change bowler and accounted for Smith, unsettling him with the short ball and then taking out his off stump with the next ball. Garrott finished with figures of 2 for 10 from 7 as well as taking a second catch in the gully. Meanwhile, Bowles continued to confuse the Shenley order finishing with fantastic figures of 4 for 37 from 10. Alan Ward (3.3-2-1-2) chipped in as did Paul Garrott and John Kershaw with some superb catches to limit Shenley to 112 all out from 35 overs.
Reed chased down the target with ease losing only G. Garrott (4) whilst his father Paul took his league average to 199 scoring 44 not out, with John Kershaw scoring 47 not out. This 9 wicket victory now takes Reed into second place in division thirteen.
