Rob Willoughby, 39, and Freddie Stuart, top-scoring with 44, put together a partnership of 65 as Reed’s top-order batsmen placed them well at 88 for 1 in the 19th over. But with a mid-order collapse after Morton, (6 for 33), was introduced into the attack, the hosts were reigned back to a disappointing 140 all out. The young Wickramaginghe had chipped-in by taking 3 wickets with his accurate slow bowling too.
The Freman College ground is notorious for quick scoring in the right circumstances, so it was important with such a small total to defend for Reed’s bowling to be on target and for the fielders to be athletic in saving the boundaries. “Tips” Baker clutched-on to a sharp chance at wide gulley as Joe Graves’s pace did for one of the openers, then Matt Giblin hit the wicket twice in removing numbers 2 and 3. There followed a period of play when the visitors inched closer to their goal, but veteran swinger Ian Roberts took-up residency and returned 4 batsmen for just 23 runs from 9 challengingly accurate overs. Giblin took a third wicket finishing with 3 for 17 from 9 overs and Owen Hughes made an unflustered contribution in his five-over spell of 2 for 16. Backed-up with some excellent ground fielding and safe catching, Hemel were reduced to 99 all-out giving Reed their first victory in Division 8 and a welcome boost up the league table.
Reed (30 points) beat Hemel Hempstead (10 points) by 41 runs.
