Reed 4 hosted promotion chasing Northwood Town 3 on a rain threatened Saturday at Freman. Skipper Rob Willoughby won the toss and decided to bat. However, this did not look the best option as openers Paul Garrott and Willoughby fell cheaply and were soon followed by Ben Moody. However, this must have lulled Northwood Town into a false sense of security as the classy Sam Deville and the dependable Alan Ward came to the crease. Both played punishing shots to the boundary whilst also running quick singles, taking apart the majority of the bowling attack. When Deville was out for 124 the pair had put on a record partnership of 218. Young Jag Lalli (2 no) then came to the crease to finish the innings with Ward who finished on 92 no. Reed finished on 249 off 45 overs declaring two overs early.
In the field Reed opened with Owen Hughes and the returning Will Kirby. Both had contrasting styles with Hughes being more skiddy and Kirby getting more bounce. Both bowled well with Hughes getting a wicket in the first over, and also another in his last over of his first spell thanks to catches from Garrott and Deville. Kirby was unlucky not to get a wicket (0-35). Ward (1-47) and Sam Rice were the change bowlers. Ward using his experience to tie down the batsmen picked up a wicket thanks to a catch at first slip from Willoughby. Rice bamboozled the batsmen and at times was unplayable. Rice picked up a fantastic wicket bowled leaving the batsmen clueless, and finishing on 1-64.
Willoughby then replaced Rice. After picking up two wickets Northwood Town looked out of the game. However, they started to up the run rate and were finding the boundary with amazing luck. Hughes took the brunt of the punishment despite bowling well, and finished on figures of 2-55. Willoughby took two further wickets to finish on 4-42, and the game could have now had any result with Northwood Town 8 down. Unfortunately Northwood Town’s luck continued and they chased the score down with an over to spare.
Next week Reed play another promotion chasing team, Old Elizabethans.
