This week there were sufficient players available for Reed’s Fourth XI to arrange a fixture through the Cricket Conference with the north London based club, Mayfield CC. Batting first on a green pitch, Mayfield’s opening batsmen put-on a sound partnership before a little cluster of wickets fell together. Much to his amazement, part-time bowler Steve Hughes had grabbed 3 wickets to well-judged outfield catches by John Kershaw, Bill Mansfield and Zac Conley.
A fourth wicket came his way with the aid of a stumping by the “war-wounded”, Lloyd Bowman, who had earlier copped a high-riser on the eyebrow. He bravely resumed after treatment now wisely donning a helmet. Steve Hughes finished with career best figures of 4 for 44. Son, Rhodri, also took a wicket with another catch by Bill Mansfield on the boundary, whilst Mansfield himself, induced a well-deserved wicket when Peter Baker pouched a regulation two-hander in the slips. Matt Yates and the Conley brothers, Zac and Josh, h ad bowled their overs economically and were unlucky not to take wickets. Being a “timed game”, Mayfield declared after 44 overs with the total of 189 for 6.
After tea, Peter Baker, (19), and Rhodri Hughes, (18), comfortably put-on 38 for Reed’s first wicket but a change to the slows of Cullen, (4 for 48), impacted on the reply. Number 4, Steve Hoye, scored 16, Bowman, down the order, 11, but the highest score was Bill Mansfield’s 23. Now unable to get anywhere near the required target, it remained for Mayfield to winkle-out the Reed batsmen whose other alternative was to bat-out for a draw. However, the innings closed on 130 all-out leaving the hosts victorious by 59 runs with change-bowler, Ravi Sondh, claiming 4 for 7 at the end.
Reed IV lost to Mayfield CC by 59 runs.
