Reed III’s hosted Northwood Town II’s in the 4th league game of the season. Northwood skipper Sumeet chose to bat on what looked to be the usual Freeman road. Opener Fozam (0) quickly fell victim to the deadly bowling of Graves (9-2-26-1), while no. 3 Dawson-Jones (1) quickly falling prey to Robertson, both to the hands of keeper Naeem. Shah (10) soon became Robertson’s second victim and two overs later Vanker (0) was also defeated. Rizri (18) made a small stand until the intelligent bowling of Morss gained Reed another scalp, while Khota (11) was also trapped by the wiles of Morss (10-5-12-2) George Garrott (9-1-41-0) supported Morss with some difficult swing bowling, while G. Stuart worried the batsmen with nagging out swing (3-0-12-0), but the run rate steadil increase as Lal and opener Ravi pushed up the total. It was Barlow that finally made the breakthrough bowling Ravi for a respectable 65. This brought Malik to the crease who attacked the bowling with vigour, until Barlow took a solid catch off the bowling of Robertson(10-0-41-4). Daly then fell victim to Barlow, which left Furmenger (1*) and Lal (29) at undefeated when the 50 over were up.
Reed set off steadily in pursuit racking up 46 before Baker (11) fell to Captain Sumeet. Robert Willoughby was quickly dispatched by the pacey bowling of Daly while brother Kieran (9) was bowled by Dawson. The Reed collapse continued when Barlow’s (71) graceful innings ended at the hands of Furmenger and Robertson (11) edged a ball to the keeper once again from the bowling of Furmenger (10-1-41-2). It was the solid strokes of Naeem and Garrott that brought Reed back into the game. Daly’s (9-0-46-2) second wicket came when he dispatched Naeem (29) with another catch by the keeper. The atmosphere became more tense when Sumeet (8.1-0-48-2) trapper Garrott (41) lbw. However, Stuart held out while Morss (11*) confidently took the bull by the horns smashing two 4’s to win Reed the match.
