Reed II’s remain unbeaten after producing their finest performance of the season to beat a useful Letchworth Garden City III’s side at Fairfield Park. On a scorching hot afternoon, Reed skipper Marcus Martin lost the toss and his side were asked to take to the field. A lightening fast outfield and a track resembling the M25 indicated that a long afternoon could ensue for the visitors, who had Peter Tidey and the returning Tom Walsingham sharing the new ball. Despite the favourable batting conditions, a combination of excellent line and length bowling and superb fielding kept the scoring very tight in the early exchanges. This scoreboard pressure eventually told as the evergreen Peter Tidey trapped one of the Letchworth openers plumb LBW, and then a few overs later forced the other one to drive uppishly into the gleeful hands of Marcus Martin. A quiet and relatively uneventful period then followed from overs 17 until 34, as Reed continued to frustrate the hosts with good bowling and tight fielding. Walsingham (10-3-34-0) had been replaced by Alex Kelly (12-2-36-0) and Karl Ward (12-3-60-0) replaced Tidey. The home side knew they needed to score more quickly, and began to play some more expansive strokes. The fast outfield meant full value for shots and the scoring rate began to rise, though still Reed pegged the home side back as excellent run outs from Matt Bowles, Alex Kelly and Marcus Martin. Ward toiled away from one end and was then joined again by Peter Tidey (19-4-71-4) who continued his magnificent form as he approaches 30 wickets at just over the halfway stage of the season. Letchworth managed to creep over the 200 mark and secure all 10 batting points, as [...]

Reed II’s secured a well deserved promotion with a game still to play after victory against Luton Town & the Indians on Saturday, setting up a mouth watering title decider against second placed Hexton next weekend.After losing the toss, Marcus Martin’s men were asked to field but soon made early inroads into the Luton top order, as first Kallum Ward and then Peter Tidey got into their stride to leave the visitors reeling on 12-3. Ward (4-0-23-2) bowled with real pace to pick up two of these wickets, but it was the guile of Tidey that continued to do the damage for Reed as he struck twice more to reduce Luton to 43-5. Alex Kelly (13.5-5-42-3) replaced Ward and took no time to get into his own rhythm, as he and Tidey combined to remove the final 5 Luton wickets. Tidey achieving another 5 wicket haul as he reached an astonishing 56 wickets for the season, ending with match figures of 17-10-18-5. Luton had been bowled out for 94 inside 35 Overs.Reed knew that a win would all but secure promotion, no matter what went on elsewhere. However, they got off to a shaky start as first Phil Frenay (4) was caught behind, before skipper Marcus Martin skied an attempted moo to mid off for 13. Reed were shaking on 24-2 and Luton smelt blood. Fergus Martin remained calm however and he and Richard Johnson steadied the ship to take Reed past the halfway point. Just when things were looking assured Johnson danced down the track only to miss the ball and give the left arm spinner his 3rd wicket. 57-3 then became 68-4 as Reed stuttered towards their target, this time it was Ferg [...]

Returning skipper Marcus Martin won the toss and decided to bat first on what looked like another good Reed wicket. Reed lost an early wicket with the score on just 5 and Eversholt looked like they might be able to make more inroads. Brothers Fergus and Marcus Martin started the innings again and soon started to find the boundaries. Opposition skipper Lawson had to leave the attack with a groin injury after 5.3 overs and was replaced by Ling. Fergus Martin was bowled for 15 when the score reached 68 in the 20th over. Reed reached the half way stage still just two down and Skipper Martin had passed fifty. With wickets in hand they could look to accelerate.Martin was beginning to find the boundary regular and was well supported by Richard Johnson who scored a brisk 28. Martin was finally removed for 104 and the home side had moved to 168 for 4. Roddi Liebenberg joined Karl Ward and the pair didn’t hang around. With 13 overs left Reed were on 170 and they weren’t separated until they had put on 78 in just 8 overs. Liebenberg raced to 50 and with Michael Robertson who smashed a very quick 11, Reed declared at 260-5 in 50 overs. This gave the visitors 3 extra overs.Reed knew it was going to be hard to get all 10 wickets on a very flat wicket, but how would the opposition go about chasing 261? Stockdale fell early for 4 when he was LBW to Rupert Martin. Tom Walsingham produced another excellent opening spell and deserved a wicket. We was replaced by off spinner Fergus Martin. Martin using many of the variations he can bowl, managed to remove the [...]

Reed went into this match already assured of returning to Division 6 a year after being relegated. Hexton were also promoted, but the question of who would top the table was still up for grabs.Hexton won the toss and decided there best hope was to bowl Reed out and chase down the runs. Openers Baz Curtis and Phil Freney knew that it was vital Reed didn't lose early wickets and give the visitors an early lift.Reed and Buckas opened the attack for Hexton and both bowled a very good opening spell. The usually aggressive was restricted to just one boundary in his 10 over 7 while Frenay was equally circumspect. Curtis went in the 11 over when the score was on 23. This brought in Skipper Marcus Martin. Martin soon found the boundary the openers had trouble finding and the rate began to climb.The pair had just put on fifty when Andrews bowled Frenay for 22. Rob Lankaster in his first season with the club has had an excellent season at this level and looked in no trouble and had reach 19 in good time before being adjudged LBW. With just over 20 overs to go Reed were well placed at 105-3, but a few wickets now could have turned the match in Hexton's favour.Karl Ward had other ideas. He took a liking to Jetuwa hitting him for six. Martin and Ward added 73 in the next 15 overs to put the home side in touching distance of maximum batting points. Martin went for a fine 72 and Ward followed 5 runs later for 56, bowled by Ladla. Reed still have 7 overs left and it looked like they might post 240.Ladla was proving hard [...]

Reed's 2nd XI were put into bat for the second week running and again scored maximum batting points. Phil Freney led the way with an almost chanceless 93. Freney has been in good form all season and this week scored his first 50 of the season.After coming through a good opening spell from Bonner and Mahachi. The latter taking 3-22 from his 7 overs. Reed could have been in trouble and at 53-3 the innings could have gone either way. Ed Garrott joined Freney and both looked in complete control. They had just put on 50 together when the half way drinks came and the score was 106-3. As is often the case drinks brought a wicket as Cragwell removed Garrott for 24.The rest of the side batted around Freney. Despite some hectic running at times he passed 50 and was marching towards his hundred. Roddi Liebenberg and Toby Fynn both chipped in with useful scores. Freney was finally removed for 93 with 6 overs left and 197 on the board. Only 3 needed for maximum points.Suddenly it was 9 down and still 3 needed. Peter Tidey along with younger brother Tim saw the visitors past 200, but Tidey was bowled for 9 and Holthwhite Trinibis had suddenly gained to extra overs to chase down 207.The home side look positive from ball one and the scoreboard was moving along nicely. It was Cambridgeshire over 50s all rounder Peter Tidey who made the breakthrough. He produced a snorter to Puessinow that just clipped the bail, bowling him for 13. Richardson was next to go, bowled by Fynn trying to hit the ball out of the ground.Skipper Marcus Martin produced a superb throw to run out Micaller [...]

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 [...]

On Saturday, Reed ll's started life in Saracens Division 7 with a draw at home to a dogged Botany Bay ll's. Reed lost the toss and were asked to bat. Openers William Heslam and Phil Frenay got off to a solid start and both were finding the boundary regularly. Heslam in particular looked in fine fettle considering it was the first time he had picked up a bat this year. The pair moved reed along to 60 before Frenay was caught and bowled by McCabe for 22. This brought newly appointed captain Marcus Martin to the crease. Along with Heslam, he found the boundary on regularly occassions looking for any gap in the field, particularly peppering the 3rd man boundary with a devastating late cut. Heslam brought up his 50 and never looked troubled. Martin also brought up his 50 and continued to push on as the run rate accellerated. The pair took the score past 200 before Martin bought up his century. A fine knock, which was fluent,classy and one that clearly meant a lot to the new skipper. Heslam soon joined Martin in the 100 club, after hanging around in the 90s for a while, he made it to a chanceless 100. Heslam added just 1 more run however before he holed out trying to up the run rate. A few late boundaries from Martin (119*) and some good running from Karl Ward (4*), saw Reed to an impressive 258-2 Declared in 44 overs. McCabe was the pick of the Botany Bay bowlers in a tough start to the season for their bowling attack.After tea, Reed opening the bowling with the burly Jack Tidey and Rupert Martin. Tidey in particular looked dangerous, beating [...]