Reed III’s lost out to league leaders Berkhamsted II’s in an entertaining game at Freman College on Saturday.
Reed captain Mike Robertson lost the toss and his side were asked to bat on what proved to be an excellent cricket wicket. Berkhamsted’s fiery opening bowling soon had Reed in trouble as openers Barlow (0) and Willoughby (2) were removed inside the first fiver overs, along with Tidey (1). This left the home side in real trouble on 9-3 when Rhodri Hughes and Matt Bowles came to the crease. Hughes and Bowles set about weathering the early storm and soon had the Reed innings back on track, mixing solid defence and good stroke play. Both batsmen saw off the opening pair and soon punished the Berkhamsted change bowling as they added 96 runs for the 4th wicket when Bowles was stumped for 40. Hughes (51) meanwhile had reached his first half century for the team this season, but his sensible and mature knock also came to an abrupt end as the introduction of spin began to pay off for the visitors.
Reed then suffered a second mini collapse as 104-3 became 106-7 with Khamblat (5) and Naeem (1) being dismissed soon after Hughes and Bowles. However Skipper Robertson then led a superb counter attack, ably supported by veteran Bernie Morss (8). Robertson played some masterful strokes as he plundered 11 boundaires on his way to 53 Not Out. Unfortunately for Reed, once Morss was bounced out by the returning openers, nobody was able to sustain any partnership with Robertson as Reed’s tail was swiftly dismissed leaving the home side all out for 175 in under 45 Overs.
Berkhamsted’s reply got off to a solid start as they reached 24 without loss, before Robertson snuck one through the defences of Hopcroft. Bernie Morss (11-0-48-2) was then introduced into the attack and removed the dangerous Filer and Wyatt to leave visitors 52-3. When Hughes (5-0-25-1) then bowled Brown for 15 Reed had a sniff at 70-4. However a mature and classy knock by Pierleoni (33) and a hard hitting half century from Lewarne (55 Not Out) saw Berkhamsted edge towards their target. The reintroduction of Robertson (12-0-56-3) and fellow opener Joe Graves (10.3-2-39-1) did see further inroads made by Reed, but Berkhamsted edged over the line with overs to spare. The league leaders walking away with a 3 wicket win to leave Reed looking nervously over their shoulders as we pass the halfway mark of the season.
