Reed IIIs got back to winning ways in style this Saturday after demolishing 3rd placed Waltham Cross Rosedale IIIs at Freeman, to re-ignite their promotion hopes. Skipper Matt Bowles lost the toss, and on a damp track, his side were asked to bat. William Heslam (25) and Aidan Swain opened up the innings and Heslam in particular got Reeds innings off to a flyer with some magnificent shots. However when he fell, a mini collapse ensued. Richard Robertson (5) went caught behind, and then in form Bowles was run out without troubling the scorers to leave Reed 35-3. Swain was then joined by Naeem, who began to steady the ship and propel the score towards three figures. Naeem was particularly brutal, and he dispatched ball after ball to the boundary, soon racking up his half century. Swain was also beginning to find his form, and he too reached his half-century, when Naeem fell for a crucial 56.
Julien Fynn then got in on the act, and along with Swain took reed to above 170 and the maximum 10 batting points. Swain eventually fell for a well crafted 86, only for Jack Tidey (20 Not Out) and Fynn (30 Not Out) to see Reed to 247-5 off of their 47 Overs with some crashing blows.
With no bowling points, Rosedale had to reach the target to make their trip a worthwhile one, but with the forecast set for rain as the night drew in, Reed knew they had to take early wickets. Fynn and Tidey, fresh from starring with the bat, then did so with the ball. Fynn’s opening spell was deadly, as he snared 3 early wickets, with the rapid bowling of Tidey also picking up the wicket of a Rosedale opener to leave the visitors reeling at 0-2, then 2-3 after 4 Overs. Their situation didn’t improve much as more wickets fell to Richard Robertson, and the returning Tidey then came back to take three more victims to leave him with an excellent 4 wicket haul. A further run out from the impressive debutant, Keiron Willoughby meant that Waltham Cross Rosedale fell well short of their target, and 117 All Out. Reed travel to another side in the promotion spots next week, when the face Hatfield Crusaders IIs looking for back-to-back wins, which would propel them right back into the promotion picture after a disappointing June.
