Reed’s 2nd XI were held to a draw in all senses of the word against close rivals Watford Town II. Skipper Baz Curtis won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first. Curtis and Fergus Martin opened the innings, but Martin went LBW with only 3 on the board. In form Ed Garrott came to the crease and continued where he left off the week before. Both played positively and found the boundary regularly. Curtis was bowled for 25 and the score on 51 from just 9 overs.
Richard Johnson and Garrott put on another 40 before Johnson holded out to mid off. Garrott was now in full flow and along with Vice Captain Marcus Martin started to set about the visiting attack. Garrott showed his full range of shots off both the back and front foot and look well on the way to a hundred when he tried to sweep Shah and was adjudge LBW for an excellent 70. He had shown great concentration as the players had been on and off for some sharp showers. With the score on 154-4 with 20 overs remaining a big total looked on the card. Roddi Liebenberg joined Marin and decided the flat track was to his liking. Again both played aggressively and a mixture of solid hitting and good running pushed the score to over 200. Martin looked in very good touch and Liebenberg looking like he was pitching for the number 5 spot next week both passed 50. Lienbenberg was LBW for 61 and despite the loss of two late wickets Reed managed to post 259-7 from their 49 overs with Martin 75 not out.
With rain still in the air and the wicket still playing well Reed knew early wickets would be vital. New boy Chris Peckett opened the attack with senior partner Will Clarke. Peckett struck first thanks to some fine glove work from Sean Tidey. The players again left the field for rain, but were back quickly. Peckett suddenly found some movement and struck twice more in quick succession with 2 plumb LBWs. Clarke not to be outdone found a snorter of a ball to bowl the visiting skipper and suddenly Watford found themselves 40-4 and well behind the rate. By now Si Sampat had come to the crease and took it upon himself to dispatch the Reed attack to all parts of the ground. Karl Ward removed Shepard for a spritely 20, but from then on it was the Sampat show. Batting beautifully and knowing exactly which ball to hit and moved the score along quickly. Reed pushed the field back to try and get Rach on strike, but Sampat was skilful in protecting his young partner and Reed rarely got more than a few balls an over at the youngster.
A rare chance came, but was missed and from then on a draw was always going to be the result. It was just a matter of the home side trying to stop Watford Town picking up too many bonus points. Reed did manage to stop the visitors getting to 200, but Sampat was left 113 not out and Watford Town 190-5. Chris Peckett was the pick of the Reed bowlers taking 3-53. Both sides picked up 15 points.
