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 [...]

A superb team performance helped Peter Bakers side thrash table-topping side, Met Police Bushey. This away win was built on an excellent bowling display. The two young opening bowlers George Greaves (0-7) and Kallum Ward (1-27) bowled a tight spell of ten overs in which time the Bushey batsman were unable to manage a single boundary. The introduction of Rupert Martin (3-23) and Lou Gearing (3-24) to the attack made batting even more difficult and the home side started to lose wickets at regular intervals. The ever improving Mitchell Cooper (2-15) and Peter Baker (0-17)also contributed in restricting the batting side to 117 of their allotted 47 overs.With a strong Reed batting line up the Bushey total never looked like being enough, Peter Baker (21) and Aiden Swain (19) made a positive start before Swain was bowled in the sixth over after hitting four boundaries. Maseeh Naeem (70 not out), batting at three, took a fancy to the bowling and the score rattled along at a healthy rate. Only one more wicket fell before Reed reached their target in the twenty-second over.

Reed IIIs were left frustrated after Southgate Compton IIs batted out for a bizarre draw at Freeman College on Saturday. Reed finished the day with a healthy 18 points, but ran out of Overs and just failed to bowl out Compton after the visitors made the strange decision to shut up shop from the start of their innings ending up with 0 points, not even trying to make a total of 110, where the first batting points begin. The day started off well for Compton, as Reed Skipper Matt Bowles lost his 4th consecutive toss. The visitors elected to field on what looked a belting pitch, and Reed’s openers Ben Bowles and William Heslam then set about putting a total on the board. Youngster Heslam again looked in fine form as he played a classy array of shots, showing maturity and skill beyond his years as he raced into the 20s. Bowles was playing a more watchful innings at the other end, and Reed reached a good total of 56 before Heslam (46) clipped a shot off of his legs stright into the arms of square leg, agonisingly short of what would have been his 3rd half century in 4 games. George Greaves (4) went soon after, and it was left to Bowles and Mitchell Cooper to steady the ship. Scoring was now a much slower process for Reed, but the pair successfully weathered the storm, and with 29 of the allotted 47 Overs gone, Reed had reached 110. Bowles upped the tempo and began to find the boundary with some thumping shots, ably supported by Cooper. Bowles (56) reached a gritty half century, finally out attempting to up the pace. Maseeh Naeem then entered [...]

The thirds troubles worsened when they faced Knebworth Park fifth eleven at St Edmunds College.  On arrival finding a disappointing track captain Peter Baker decided that having won the toss the best thing to do would be to insert the hosts.Knebworth started aggressively hitting the ball hard until opening bowler Kallum Ward (5-0-17-1) removed Tompkins (8).  Opener Digweed (25) was then joined by the young Patel (28) and the two made a good partnership making runs at a steady pace.  Spinner Jason Pallet (18-1-47-4) took up residence at one end for the remainder of the innings with Michael Robertson at the other (18-3-54-3), the two successfully dislodged several wickets both taking catches of their own bowling but also thanks to the alert field.  Trouble came from Woods (25*) and opposition captain Inman (21) until he was brilliantly caught down the leg side by keeper Marcus J.E. Baker.  Robertson took the wicket of Martin (11), who had offered some late resistance, on the last ball of the innings with the score on 176 for 8.Reeds chase once again never got going, the rain damaged pitch was hard to predict and the Knebworth captain set a very successful field for his bowlers and the conditions.  With the score only on 13 Reed lost their first wicket and then on 24 Reed lost a further two wickets in two balls.  The only major resistance came from Robertson (37) who hit out, supported by Kallum Ward (13).  The only other man to get into double figures was number 11 Pallet (10) was finally dislodged by Murphy (7.3-0-27-5) who along with Martin (11-3-23-4) took the majority of the Reed wickets.  The final score was 99 all out from 29.3 overs.

Reed thirds continued their recent good form this week with another victory this time against Sawbridgeworth. The opposition captain won the toss and elected to bat first on the Freman College ground. M. Bursun (55) made up a large percentage of the visitors total as others struggled for runs. Chris Peckett led the Reed bowling attack taking 4 for 50. Whilst the bowling change introducing Richard Robertson (7-3-18-2) seemed successful. Julian Fynn (7-1-14-3) got the ball to move in a long way to take his three wickets. Kallum Ward (8-3-29-1) also bowled well and took the last wicket ending the Sawbo innings with a target of 144 runs and 51 overs to get them. Reed made up the runs in only 35 overs, captain Matt Bowles looked in good form until he was out LBW for 28. R. Robertson also looked comfortable at the crease making 35 before being caught behind. Maseeh Naeem made 15 but it was Alan Ward (14*) and Marcus J.E. Baker (12*) who were the men not out as Reed won by 5 wickets.

The thirds returned from the disappointment of the week before to a solid victory over a weakened Southgate Adelaide. Reed’s captain Maseeh Naeem won the toss and elected to bat first asking David Johnson and Peter Baker to open proceedings. The pair seemed in comfortable form until Johnson (9) fell victim to a good catch in the gully. Reed then suffered two more quick wickets including P. Baker (16) leaving the visitors on 33 for 3. Reed were then bolstered by the partnership of 92 by captain Naeem and Richard Robertson. Playing aggressive but none the less skilful shots, both gave the Reed total substance taking Reed past the hundred mark. Having lost Robertson for a well played 33, Naeem was then joined by Alan Ward (23) who supported his captain as he achieved his first hundred for the third eleven. In the closing overs Marcus J.E. Baker (26*) did some damage as Reed finished on 248 for 5 from 40 overs, Naeem finishing on 115 not out. The opposition suffered from only having ten players and certainly did not look like competing for the win which indeed they didn’t as Julian Fynn (6-1-12-5) tore through their order. Kallum Ward (6-1-14-1) made the initial break through, whilst Christian Martin (1.3-1-0-2) and David Hill (1-0-1-1) chipped in as Reed bowled out the hosts in only 15 overs for 31, winning by 217 runs and picking up vital points in the process.

The 3's still optimistic for promotion and needing a win were left dissapointed when they lost to Hertingfordbury by 5 wickets.  Reed captain Alan Ward lost the toss and was asked to bat first by the hosting captain.Reeds innings did not start well as wickets fell and they found themselves at one point on 65 for 5.  But the sixth wicket partnership of 86 between Mitchell Cooper (28) and Ian Fulk saved the situation.  Displaying good team work the two gave Reed atleast a chance at defending a total.  Although Cooper was eventualy run out Fulk continued to reach his hundred.  Reed ended their 47 overs on 196 for 8.  Pick of the opposition bowling was Ives (19-7-42-4) and Brydon (5-0-42-2).In reply Hertinfordbury had their own shaky start when Rymer (0) was bowled by Rupert Martin(10.3-1-60-1) in his second over.  But despite a steady flow of wickets Reed could not find a way to stop their opposition as performances by Dwyel (24) and Harley (34) supported the impressive innings of Rogers (91*) who found the boundary with ease and saw the hosts home with 5 wickets and 3 balls remaining.  

In the last league game of the season Reed’s third eleven naturally wanted to end with a victory, however that was not to be the case as Reed lost to visitors Radlet. Reed fielded first having lost the toss and soon had the opposition in trouble as the opening pair of Julian Fynn (7-0-54-4) and Jim Allsopp (4-1-22-1) went through their top order. The pressure was on as number 7 Reza came out to bat, still padding up on his way to the crease to face Fynn’s hat trick ball which he only just survived. From there Reza (79) rescued Radlet as he played a class innings. Richard Robertson (10-2-21-4) struck straight away after the drinks break and another quick flow of wickets followed as Reed bowled out Radlet for 154 from only 33 overs. There were catches from Paul Garrott, David Johnson and Peter Baker who also took one wicket for twelve runs. With the extra overs allotted, Reed had 57 overs to reach their target but wickets began to fall as none of the Reed batsmen could either get started or stay at the wicket. P. Baker made 18 and Maseeh Naeem 17 but neither score was enough to save Reed from losing by 50 runs. Entertainment came towards of the innings as J. Allsopp (22) smashed the ball over the boundary several times to ruin the figures of Cohen (7.1-2-24-5).

Reeds third eleven arrived at the King George V playing fields for their match against Hatfield Hyde II in the dull weather which was to last the entire match.  The ground was wet and over night the pitch had been vandalised by a motorbike creating a muddy track at one end.  Never the less, captain Peter Baker went out for the toss and winning put the home side into bat.Opening the bowling was Kallum Ward (5-1-17-1) and returning David Hill (7-1-28-0) playing his first game since the end of the last season.  Ward took the first wicket when he bowled Richardson (17) trying to pull a straight one.  Spinner Jason Pallet (15-4-40-2) came on early and put pressure on the hosts along with Ian Roberts (16-3-39-3) as runs became hard to come by and wickets fell at steady intervals.  Eventually the partnership of McCann (27) and Arnott (26) started to put runs on the board.  After 47 overs Hatfield Hyde had made 162 runs for the loss of 6 wickets, forty runs more than was hoped for thanks to Hussain (20 and Luke (14) leaving them with a defendable score.  Despite heavy showers play was not stopped during the first innings and did not again shower during the second but the pitch was by this point already a muddy mess which the Reed side found hard to bat on.  Openers Peter Baker and Aiden Swain really struggled to get any momentum against the Hyde openers, spinners Chavda (21-5-50-0) and McCann (13-2-40-4).  Although protecting their wickets Reed could not get any runs especially with the field placements which meant that in the entire innings only nine 4’s were scored.  Having lost Baker (10) Reed continued and [...]

Winning the toss and faced with the prospect of playing on a rain affected and intriguingly weed infested wicket, skipper Naeem asked the home side to bat. Despite a couple of early batsmen with 20's Pirton struggled to make much impression on the Reed bowlers and after a very slow passage of play they were recording 90-6 off 41 0vers with Richard Robertson 12 overs 3-23 the most miserly performer. However a late move away from Reeds recognised bowling options backfired as Pirtons Gentle delivered an array of powerful and unique scoring shots to strike 37 in 6 overs and take Pirton to a once unlikely looking score of 144 for 8 from their 47 overs. Reed lost Will Heslam and Paul Garrott early but John Heslam defied the vagaries of the wicket to take Reed to 63 before he fell caught for 39. John Kershaw 20 and Maseeh Naeem 21 saw Reed past the hundred mark without further loss before both perished in quick succession leaving Reed 106-5. Steve Lovegrove compiled 17 and a rapid 15 from Jim Allsopp saw Reed well placed at 131 for 5 needing 14 to win with 5 wickets in hand. However, an unbelievable collapse littered with irresponsible shots from several players who ought to have known better saw Reed collase to 137 for 9. A hard struck 4 from No11 Julian Fynn took the total to within a boundary of victory but it was not to be as Kallum Ward fell caught for 1 with Julian left stranded on 4 not out at the other end and 11 balls still to go in the match! A match that Reed ought to have won thrown away!