Reed returned to winnings ways this week with a comprehensive victory over Shenley Village. After the miserable weather of last week and the draw the week before that, Reed were anxious to get their campaign back on track. Reed won the toss and bowled first, Chris West (7-1-26-2) took the first wicket with C. Kelly playing on, the ball gently rolling back on to his stumps. He soon took the second thanks to a good catch down the leg side by keeper Marcus J.E. Baker. Their number 3 W. Burr (39) then made a partnership with A. Smith (19), Burr hitting anything short straight to the boundary. Reed captain Peter Baker then changed the tempo with first change bowler Ben Bowles whose gentle action took pace off the ball. Burr could not figure out how to play Bowles and was soon caught by George Garrott in the gully. Garrott was also a first change bowler and accounted for Smith, unsettling him with the short ball and then taking out his off stump with the next ball. Garrott finished with figures of 2 for 10 from 7 as well as taking a second catch in the gully. Meanwhile, Bowles continued to confuse the Shenley order finishing with fantastic figures of 4 for 37 from 10. Alan Ward (3.3-2-1-2) chipped in as did Paul Garrott and John Kershaw with some superb catches to limit Shenley to 112 all out from 35 overs. Reed chased down the target with ease losing only G. Garrott (4) whilst his father Paul took his league average to 199 scoring 44 not out, with John Kershaw scoring 47 not out. This 9 wicket victory now takes Reed into second place in division [...]

Reed had to leave their away fixture against Sawbridgeworth with a frustrating draw in a game in which Reed had shown complete dominance, but were unable to pick off the two remaining wickets they needed for a win. With Peter Baker out with his broken thumb the job of captain went to all rounder Alan Ward, who won the toss and elected to bat first. Reed’s in form batsman Paul Garrott once again got Reed off to a good start and made a partnership of 77 with John Kershaw before falling for 34. Kershaw then made another partnership with George Garrott both of whom played impressive innings, keeping out the good balls and punishing the bad balls by sending them to boundary. Both made half centuries, Kershaw 50 and the younger Garrott 62. In the dying overs Lewis Fitzgerald and Marcus J.E. Baker added to the large total, Baker 25 and Fitzgerald 37 not out. Ward declared at 259 for 5 from 43 overs. The hosting captain looked liked he fancied his chances at chasing down the total as he made some early runs. But he was put on the back foot when his opening partner Fisher was caught down the leg side by keeper M.J.E. Baker for naught from the bowling of James Hooper (9-1-44-1). The second wicket came about when having struck the ball firmly to mid off, captain Freeman called yes for the most unlikely single as Christian Martin threw the ball Freddie Flintoff style to run out Moorleg. His brother Rupert then had Vijay LBW which was the first of four fantastic wickets including that of Freeman (48), the Sawbo order unable to combat his in-swing, he finished with figures of [...]

Match report to follow

Match report to follow

Reed still required one more win in their final game of the season to have any chance at gaining promotion, but facing fellow promotion chasers Potters Bar it would not be any easy task. Potters Bar won the toss and chose once again to bat first. Opener Breeze (4) obviously had his mind on something else as he chopped one from Lewis Fitzgerald onto his stumps giving Reed the early advantage. Fitzgerald doubled the dose as he bowled number 3 Tipmuss for only 2 putting Reed on top. James Hooper (6-0-11-1) replaced Fitzgerald, who had finished his 7 overs with 2 for 18, put added pressure on Potters Bar by taking a third wicket. George Garrott then came on and bowled a fantastic spell which took care of the middle order finishing with 4 for 7 from his seven overs. Christian Martin (12-2-30-1) had held down the other end before being replaced by Ian Roberts (7.3-0-20-2) who bowled his first victim and took the final wicket thanks to keeper Marcus J.E. Baker who took the only catch of the innings. Potters Bar were left in tatters bowled all out for only 97.Reeds response had started off sensibly until a suicidal call for a single caught Reeds prolific runs scorer Paul Garrott short of the crease, which started a collapse as the pressure of the occasion got to Reed. Finding his side at 26 for 4 and momentum with the opposition, M.J.E. Baker went out to join George Garrott at the crease. The pair started the innings again and took their time to get used to both the bowling and the bounce of the track which was keeping a lot lower than usual. Baker started to [...]

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Reed IV versus Old Elizabethans III, Away on Saturday 22nd May 2010. Old Elizabethans won the toss and elected to bat first on a somewhat shabby pitch at Elstree CC. Will Kirby, (1 for 39), struck early but wickets did not fall frequently enough for Reed to be in total control. The run rate was not high, so Old Es’ total of 171 for 7 in the full 47 overs was not considered to be too imposing. The metronomic Ian Roberts again picked-up wickets, returning 3 for 27, and there were also wickets for Peter Baker, (2 for 26), and Alan Ward, (1 for 8), as well as Kirby’s opener. In reply, Baker was out cheaply and, surprisingly, Paul Garrott registered his first “out” of the season after scoring only 11. Two more quick wickets left Reed in a precarious position, but Peter Bradford hit-out for 23, whilst John Kershaw top scored with 48. At 100 for 7, Reed’s captain realised that victory was beyond them but with 12 overs remaining, orders were to play only the straight deliveries and to leave the others alone. Roberts stayed for a while and Nick Green held-out for 5 overs then Chris West faced an over, but the draw was achieved only by a sensible innings by Will Kirby who was undefeated on 11 not out with some straight bat defending. Reed found themselves in 4th position in the Division at the end of the day. Match Drawn. Reed IV 9 points; Old Elizabethans III 19 points

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The fours did their part in another good weekend for the club with a solid victory over old rivals Langleybury. Returning captain Peter Baker lost the toss and was asked to bat first, opening for Reed were Will Heslam and Aiden Swain. Both made good starts as they put early pressure on the opposition but Reed then lost Heslam for 26 with the score on 45. Swain was then joined by Paul Garrott before Swain (17) also fell with the score on 79. Paul Garrott then made a fantastic partnership with John Kershaw as they smashed their own previous third wicket score. Kershaw capitalised on some poor field placements by pulling the short balls to the empty leg side as he over took Garrott. Kershaw, playing a fantastic innings, reached three figures for the first time becoming the fourth century maker for the side this season before being run out for 110, ending their partnership of 176. Paul Garrott remained and once again helped his healthy average by finishing on 92 not out as the declaration came after 45 overs with Reed on 292. Nick Green (6-1-16-1), bowling a very good spell, took the first wicket after tea bowling McFarlane (0) before Christian Martin (9-1-20-3) once again excelled with the ball taking out a bulk of the opposition line up. Langlebury struggled for runs with only some futile heavy hitting coming too late from Hines (42) and Gallager (40), damaging the figures of Josh Poulton who’s bowling certainly did not deserve such treatment, but Poulton had the final word by taking two in two balls finishing with figures of 2 for 42. James Hooper also took two wickets in his spell for 41, as did [...]

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