Reed won and took the brave decision to put St. Margaretsbury II into bat on what looked like a flat batting track. Mitchell Cooper struck early removing Blemkin for a duck with only 12 on the board. St. Margaretsbury regrouped well putting on 73 for the 2nd wicket and looked well on top and on the way to a big total. Keiran Wheeler who had replaced Cooper tempted the well set Banbett into coming down the track and we was caught by King for an excellent 47. Reed suddenly found a new lease of life. Chris Peckett struck twice in two balls. He had Jackman LBW for 0 and the next ball Griffiths was unlucky to volley the ball onto his stumps. Suddenly it was 86-4 and the game was back in the balance. Martin Beedell was now the rock of the St. Margaretsbury innings. He was joined by Charlie Frederick and they had put on 46 when an ill judge single so Beedell run out for 54. Again Reed struck twice as Wood was bowled by Peter Tidey. The score was now 131-6 and Reed began to turn the screw. Frederick was unlucky to adjudged LBW for 28 with the score on 153. Run were now becoming harder to score and tail was removed for the addition of 17 more runs. St. Margaretsbury were all out for 170. Peckett and Tidey both taking 2 wickets with Keiran Wheeler taking 3.
St. Margaretsbury were going to need early wickets to put the home side unpressure and they did just that. A fine open spell from Sheffield and Hanley saw the home side 13-2 with Baz Curtis and Cooper both removed by Hanley by catches in the gully. Richard Johnson and Matt Bowles then played with sensible aggression to rebuild the innings.Bowles got some luck when the St. Margaretsbury’s skipper withdraw his appeal against an LBW decision. Most sporting. He took full advantage and with Johnson put on 83 for the 3rd wicket. Johnson was removed for 54 off only 35 balls. At 96-3 from 17 overs Reed just need to keep their heads. Roddi Liebenberg joined Bowles and he didn’t hang around. Eleven overs later it was all over. Bowles was left 61 not out and Liebenberg had raced to 41 hitting the only six of the game. Reed won by 7 wickets with 24 overs to go.
