Reed III winning run came to an abrupt halt away to a 12th placed Pirton on Saturday. Arriving with a strong team, the Reed skipper Maseeh Naeem again called the coin toss correctly and decided to the stick with the strategy that had served the thirds well over the course of the season; Insert the opposition, bowl them out cheaply and win the match. The plan appeared to be working, although the Pirton skipper Howard (33) went after the Reed opening bowlers Giblin (9-3-0-27) and Fitzgerald (9-0-2-39). Fitzgerald was unlucky not to get a wicket with his first ball when an easy chance for a catch was put down at square leg. The first change after 10 overs made a difference; Kallum Ward (11-4-3-12), who bowled with a lot of pace, along with Graham Wilson (7.4-3-2-14) returning to bowling after injury, saw the run rate slow and wickets fall. Julian Fynn (9-5-2-7) bowled with economy and picked up two wickets in his spell. Matt Naeem (5-1-1-22) supported the seamers with some spin. This allowed Fitzgerald, Ward and Wilson to return for a second spell and finish off the Pirton innings after 50.4 overs, the hosts posting a score of 146 all out. In Steve Lovegrove’s absence, Ben Bowles stood in as wicket keeper and although he did a first-rate job, Pirtons top scorer was extras, 34 being conceded by Reed.On any given Saturday Reed III would have backed themselves to chase done 146 in 49 overs. Ben Bowles, bruised and aching after his wicket keeping exploits opened with Richard Barlow and the pair made a slow but steady start. Barlow (10) was the first to depart adjudged LBW with the score on 25. Ian Fulk [...]

On a hot sunny Saturday, Reed III opened their season with a friendly against Preston in a 90 over match at Reed. The Reed Captain Maseeh Naeem won the toss and elected to bat sending in, Paul Garrott and Peter Baker to open. The Preston opening bowlers bowled a good line and length and the Reed batsman found it hard to get the ball away, Cook in particular was very economical, ending with figures of 2 – 17 of his 10 over’s. It was Hearne (10 – 1 – 25) who struck first having Garrott caught behind in the fourth over for 2 with the score on 11. Peter Baker was joined at the crease by 15 year old Matthew Naeem but the pair only managed to put on 7 runs before Baker (14) was adjudged to be out LBW to the bowling of Cook. John Kershaw (5) also met the same fate, LBW to Cook with the score on 29 after 11 over’s. Matthew Naeem was then joined by another 15 year old; Nick Green and the pair slowly started the Reed recovery. Green being the most aggressive of the pair attempted to take the attack to Preston, Naeem decided to play the anchor role, taking 37 deliveries to register his first runs. This partnership saw of the Preston opening pair and put on 70 runs before Green was bowled for 27, leaving Reed on 95 for 4 after 30 over’s. Maseeh Naeem then took up the role of aggressor with some unconventional but effective batting, before being bowled by S Balac for 41. The partnership saw Naeem Snr and Naeem Jnr put on 51 runs in 5 over’s. Alan Ward then played a [...]

Reed faced Old Elizabethians at Freman this weekend with the opposition in the top two at start of play. Reed lost the toss and were asked to bat. After last weeks fine batting achievement Will Heslam and Paul Garrott were asked to open but unfortunately Heslam could not repeat last weeks efforts and was bowled in the second over for 4. Ian Fulk and Paul Garrott then put together a slow but crucial second wicket partnership against some tight bowling taking the score to 110 before Fulk was dismissed for 62. John Heslam took to the bowling and accelerated the innings together with Graham Wilson who took over when Paul Garrott was eventually run out for 35. Wilson eventually fell short of what looked a certain half century and was caught on 40. A hat trick followed by pick of the opposition bowlers Mali seeing off Heslam for 42, Ben Bowles 0 and Nick Green also for 0. Maseeh Naeem used up the remaining overs with son Matthew. Maseeh was 40 not out and Mattew 2 not out. From 76 for 1 at half way drinks Reed had set the opposition a daunting 243 to win. The second half saw the youngsters Will Heslam and Lewis Fitzgerald open the attack and although the latter had early success as Lovegrove behind the stumps caught a good catch low down to dismiss one of the openers, the other plundered the some what wayward bowling. Heslam 7-0-62-0 was replaced by Matthew Naeem who together with another youngster Nick Green bowling spin slowed the run rate considerably. Grren eventually had the opener caught in the deep by Ben Bowles and this was swiftly followed by a good catch behind [...]

A much needed win at home to Northwood III leaves Reed III requiring four points from their two remaining games to guarantee promotion to division 9.Winning the toss the visitor’s skipper decided to bat first; the Reed opening attack of Kallum Ward (9-1-3-21) and Julian Fynn (13.2-3-3-27) was more than the Northwood openers could cope with. Ward beat the bat on numerous occasions before removing Mackey’s (4) middle stump with the score on 7. Seven runs later Karnick (3) was walking back to the changing room after Steve Lovegrove took a catch behind the stumps off of the bowling of Fynn. The score had moved very slowly to 24 when Fynn struck again bowling the hapless Dewin for 6. With the rain falling in a steady drizzle, Reed took the pace of the ball with Maseeh Naeem taking 2 for 29 in his 11 over spell and Nick Green picking up 1 for 7 in three overs. Fynn and Ward then returned to the attack to finish of the Northwood innings. The visitors limped to 113 all out in 46 overs.After a fantastic Ann Garrott tea, the cakes were seriously good, the Reed reply started with Paul Garrott and “Pinch Hitter” Ben Bowles. The score rattled along at a healthy rate and the set target never looked in doubt. Bowles hit 9 boundaries in getting his half century; Garrott played the sensible anchor role. Bowles eventually fell for 61, Northwood's only point in the match. Garrott (43n.o) and Scott Caine (8n.o) saw Reed home in the 23rd over for a convincing 9 wicket win.

After the loss at Pirton last week Reed III were keen to consolidate their position against unbeaten division leaders Mill Hill Village. On a day it would have suited Reed to lose the toss; skipper Maseeh Naeem won for the sixth consecutive match, and asked the visitors to bat. Kallum Ward (13-2-1-51) and Matt Giblin (8-2-2-27), opened the bowling; Giblin struck in his first over, bowling Lee for a duck. Ward beat Shar’s bat on a number of occasions and was unlucky not to pick up an early wicket. Just as it appeared that the batsman were getting to grips with the bowling Giblin removed A Potter for 17, who played on to his stumps. Ward then removed Cara for 4 with the last ball of his opening spell, a smart catch taken by the stand in wicket keeper James Hooper. After 14 overs a bowling change was forced on Reed, the skipper Naeem and Louis Fitzgerald replacing the openers. By now Shar had started to get into his stride and D Potter was striking the ball very cleanly, the Mill Hill total steadily improved. Fitzgerald (9-0-0-37) bowled with little luck but Naeem (9-0-3-41) broke the partnership by bowling Shar (27) and having D Potter (32) caught at mid on. When Naeem had Asif caught in his next over Mill Hill were 106 for 6, Reed could have been forgiven for thinking they were in with a shout. However the Mill Hill skipper Overton (74n.o) assisted by Gajjer (56n.o) showed why the visitors had be undefeated thus far. With some aggressive batting, and the use of agricultural but effective shots the pair took the score to 246 for 6 before declaring after 47 overs.Richard Barlow [...]

Arriving at the Little Berkhamsted ground the sun was shining and the hosts were keen to play on what was a very green and damp pitch. Winning the toss the Reed Skipper Maseeh Naeem asked the hosts to bat. Kallum Ward (10-3-1-27) and Matt Giblin (10-0-2-32) used the conditions well and made life very difficult for the Sahib’s batsman. Ward’s first spell of 7 overs saw him pick up his one wicket of the day for 8 runs. A change of bowling saw Sahib’s on 44 for 2 after 20 overs, Julian Fynn (11-3-2-35) removing the second Sahib opener. Louis Fitzgerald (10.5-00-28) bowled very well,giving no width but the 3rd wicket stand, with the hard hitting Allum and Patel, threatened to post a big total for Sahibs. The Sahib’s score was 114 for 2 in the 36th over when Matt Naeem (5-1-1-23) broke the 60 run partnership by bowling Patel (29). This gave Reed an opening and wickets began to fall. Maseeh Naeem picked up 3 for 20 in a 6 over spell. Giblin picked up two wickets in his second spell including the dangerous Allum for 67 and Fynn picked up his 2nd of the day and 21st of the season, leaving Sahib’s innings on 177 all out in 52.5 overs. The Reed reply was going well with Paul Garrott and Aiden Swain making good progress until a mix up saw Swain run out on 15. John Heslam had just enough time to take guard and hit a single before there was a torrential downpour and the game had to be abandoned with the Reed score on 31 in the 7th over. This game lasted 60 overs before rain stopped play and the two [...]