After defeat in their opening fixture Reed IV’s welcomed Potters Bar to Freman College in their first home fixture of the season.
With just 10 men skipper Bowman opted to bowl first. Jake Gifford (6-0-22-2) opened the bowling and began testing the batsman from the start and with the spin of Martin Johnson (5-0-18-2) tying down the batsman at the other end; runs were hard to come by in the first few overs. Gifford finally got his reward forcing both openers to nick behind to Bowman. Not to be underdone by his fellow opener, Johnson also claimed two quick wickets. Change bowlers Steve Hughes (5-0-22-2) and Bill Mansfield (7.5-0-27-3) carried on the good work from the openers and at 57-8 Potters Bar were struggling. A ninth wicket partnership of 32 then frustrated Reed before Jonathan Adam made the breakthrough and Bill Mansfield then claimed the final wicket following a great catch at square leg by Ben Mansfield as Potters Bar were all out for 108 after 26.5 overs.
As clouds began to gather around Freman during tea, it was clear that the weather may become a factor later in the afternoon and openers Johnson and Kieran Willoughby set out to score quickly from the offset punishing anything short or offline from openers Barnes (4-0-29-0) and Sarin (4-0-32-0) to the boundary. Johnson looked in fine form before unfortunately being bowled for 49 as Reed were just shy of the total. Fortunately for Reed as the rain looked likely to threaten, Bill Mansfield (12 not out) and Kieran Willoughby (34 not out) quickly steered Reed side home in just 12 overs. A great performance by a depleted Reed side, for their first victory of the 2016 season.
Match Report submitted by Lloyd Bowman.
