Reed went top of Division 7 with an excellent all round display. In searing heat Skipper Phil Freney lost the toss and to the delight of his side were asked to field first. It was important that they got off to a good start and not have to chase the ball to all parts on a very fast outfield.
Peter Tidey and Tom Walsingham opened the attack for the visitors and Tidey was soon into his stride. The batsman’s found him hard to score off and with Walsingham bowling equally well Reed started well. Walsingham struck the first blow bowling the Abbotts Langley skipper for 2. Then came what might have been the turning point of the match. Parkin called for a single to Michael Robertson at backward square, Smith wasn’t interested, but Parkin was halfway down the wicket. Robertson swooped on the ball and hit the non strikers end with Parkin not in the frame.
From then on Reed were on top. After 20 overs the home side had limped to 64 with the loss of 3 wickets. Karl Ward replaced Rupert Martin and bowled an excellent 13 over spell. He removed Merritt for 22 just as he and Handoll looked like they might push on. Agius joined Handoll and the pair decided enough was enough and they needed to attack. Agius batted better than his number 8 position and with some lusty blows raced to 34. Suddenly it looked like Reed could be chasing over 200. That was a least a par score on this pitch. Agius was now full of confidence and tried to hit Ward out of the attack. He targeted long on, but Walsingham was there to take a good catch.
Reed could sense one final push could see them end the innings. The stubborn Handoll was finally removed by Ward for 60. Walsingham replaced Tidey after his 21 over, 1 for 67 spell. Walsingham not to be outdone by Ward whipped out the tail. Finishing with 4 for 43 from 12 overs. Ward had figures of 4 for 28 from 13 overs. Reed were set 170 to win.
Reed’s reply was not one of their best. They were two down for 33 with Baz Curtis and Roddi Liebenberg both early casualties. This brought Rob Lankaster to the crease. He joined Phil Freney in what would be a match winning partnership. The diminutive 14 year old wasn’t fazed by the situation. With the less diminutive Freney helping him through, the pair soon started to up the rate. The home side decide the short ball to Lankaster might be worth a shot, but once that had been hooked for 4 that plan was quickly abandoned.
Freney reached yet another 50 and in the 26th over Reed were over the 100 mark. Lankaster was scoring to all parts of the ground and finding the boundary with ease. The pair knew it wasn’t going to take boundaries and picked up all the singles available to them. Despite the heat the pair took every run and even started to run 3s. Lankester got stuck on 49 and was finally dismissed with Agius picking up his 3rd wicket. Even the home side felt a bit sorry for him as they applauded him off for what should have been a well constructed 50. With a much deserved ton now out of site Freney continued to knock the ball around to push his side closer to victory. Karl Ward had joined Freney and was 8 not out out as he hit the winning runs. Freney was 86 not out as his side went top of Division 7.
For a top of the table clash this match was played in a great spirit and was a pleasure to play in.
