Reed 2nd XI maintained their winning start to the 2015 season with an emphatic victory away to Wheathampstead IIs.
With 4 changes to the side that swept Shenley Village aside last week, Reed skipper Marcus Martin lost the toss and his side were invited to bat first by the hosts. 2014 batsman of the year Phil Frenay opened up with Richard Johnson and after a cautious start on a drying pitch, the pair began to play some glorious shots as they took the opening stand past the 50 run mark. Johnson (25) was looking well set when he was victim to a good ball that nipped back and took his off stump with the score on 76. This brought promising youngster Jack Caine to the middle to join Frenay, and Caine took little time to show off his mercurial stroke play as he plundered four boundaries on his way to a classy 26. Frenay (53) reached his half century as he and Caine took the score to 117 when Caine was caught. When Frenay fell LBW soon after, Reed captain Marcus Martin and the ever consistent Marcus J.E. Baker had a rebuilding job to do.
Baker soon found his stride as he continued his good early season form as he found the boundary on a regular basis. Martin, who has found early season runs less easy to come by, had to work hard early on. However time in the middle for him proved to be crucial as he soon rediscovered his form. The pair put on 87 for the 3rd wicket with Baker (39) adjudged LBW. Martin continued to dominate, despite wickets beginning to fall at the other end, before he went for one big shot too many and was also LBW for 61. Late order run from Alex Kelly (7 Not out) and Pete Tidey (12) ensured Reed finished their allotted on what looked an above par score of 260.
After a spicy tea, Pete Tidey and Aidan Woodcock opened the bowling for Reed and both bowled with great skill as Reed made early in-roads into the Wheathampstead top order. Woodcock was the first to strike, trapping Turpin LBW, before Tidey bowled Ali. Woodcock (10-2-29-3) then bowled and Li, with Tidey (10-2-29-3) having Porter caught by the ever reliable hands of Johnson. Some hard hitting from Kiek did offer some resistance for the home side but he was soon sent packing by the Tidey brothers, as wicketkeeper Tim took a well taken catch after a massive edge off Pete. Despite bizarre protestations from the batsman, he was sent on his way by the umpire with tears in his eyes. Only Ishar offered any other resistance as the lively Alex Kelly (6.2-3-11-4) mopped up the tail with typical control and deception.
Wheathampstead all out for 92 in 32.2 Overs giving Reed a massive 168 run victory.
