Reed III’s claimed a winning draw on Saturday in a game they should have won easily. Missing big scoring stroke player Mark King and grafter Matt Bowles, they went into the game with a belief that they could still overcome Waltham Cross III’s on a baking hot summers day. Skipper Maseeh Naeem won the toss and elected to bat on Watham’s artificial track, and this looked to be a bad decision when youngster William Heslam fell to a corker of a delivery that cut in a long way and removed his leg stump.
Academy players Julian Fynn, George Garrott and Lewis Fitzgerald all followed in quick succession, leaving Reed on 35 for 4 and a bemused Ben Bowles at the other end contemplating an early tea. However, along with Bowles, Reed’s middle and lower order were not prepared to throw in the towel. Steve Lovegrove added a useful 15, then Richard Robertson hit a swash buckling 24 before falling to a sharp caught and bowled from Lewis. Skipper Naeem then joined Bowles at the crease and the pair upped the anti, until Naeem skied one back to the loopy Wilkinson for 32. Waltham Cross though they had broken the backbone of Reeds batting, but did not account for Kallum Ward joining the now classy looking Bowles.
Together they broke the record for the 8th wicket partnership with a wonderful display of batting, despatching the ball all over the field. Ward eventually fell for 59 and Bowles 93 as Reed finished on an impressive 265 declared.
After tea Reed took the game to the Waltham Cross batsmen, opening bowlers Julien Fynn and Rupert Martin removed the top three batsmen in little time. Unfortunately during this spell Reed lost key bowler Robertson, breaking his finger taking an impressive catch. Waltham’s middle order steadied the ship, but veteran bowler Archer was more than equal to them and removed the big hitting Wilkinson and Humphries who fell to a sharp catch from substitute fielder John Heslam. Reed then lost their way, and although not conceding many runs, could not remove the Waltham Cross lower order, despite some quick hostile bowling from Ward.
The awkward style of Chantler, nicking the strike to protect the ungainly Moore somehow managed to frustrate the Reed bowlers, and they held out until Archer finally removed Moore clean bowled. This brought Byatt to the crease who managed to see out the remaining overs leaving Waltham Cross on 147 for 9, and Reed frustrated with a draw, although they did manage an impressive 19 points.
Skipper Naeem commented “With the strength in depth that Reed have I was never concerned about missing a couple of players, and if the truth be told we were robbed of a victory. Ben Bowles came in for his brother Matt and did a sterling job, and young all-rounder Kallum Ward once again proved he is a going to be an important player at Reed for seasons to come. The only sour note being that it looks like Richard (Robertson) will be out for a number of weeks”
