Reed 1st XI hosted top of the table Letchworth Garden City in the Herts Premier League Championship on Saturday July 23rd. Reed captain Tom Greaves won the toss and opted to bat on a hot day on the flattest of tracks. However, tight Letchworth bowling saw Reed score at 3 an over for the first 50 overs for 3 wickets down. Brothers William, (64), and James Heslam, (57), both contributed well, but Reed were unable to kick-on in the middle overs and found themselves having to accelerate in the last ten. Sean Tidey, (20 not out), and Mitchell Cooper, (20), both scored quickly to take Reed to 238 for 7 off their allotted 60 overs. However this was clearly going to be a difficult total for Reed to defend.
In reply, Letchworth got off to a rapid start, but Reed had Aitchenhead, (12), caught Tidey, bowled Ed Wharton in the fourth over with Letchworth on 22. Chahal, (35), and Bates, (51), then rebuilt the innings with a stand of 45, taking them to 81 for two in the 17th over. This brought hard-hitting Maxwell Pipe to the crease who proceeded to score 78 not out and take Letchworth over the line in 50 overs with 5 overs to spare. Ed Wharton (16 overs, 1 maiden, 4 wickets for 72 runs) tried his heart out, supported by Tom Greaves (12-0-2-49), but in between too many loose balls were bowled by the five other bowlers used and Letchworth cruised to victory thanks to Pipe’s powerful stroke play.
Reed meet Hemel Hempstead away this Saturday.
Report submitted by RMR.
