A scintillating opening partnership of 134 from 20 overs by Ed Wharton (86) and Rob Lankester (35) was not enough to carry Reed to victory over Langleybury. However, given that there were seven enforced changes from last week’s game, a total of 219 represented a creditable performance.
Earlier, Langleybury were on the rack at 106-5 with Toby Fynn (10-1-52-3) and Ian Osborne (10-1-56-3) in the wickets. Yet Rhys Williams (50) and Khalid Manzoor (57) turned the tide with a partnership of 89; Langleybury finishing with 260-9 as Ed Wharton (10-1-31-2) and Karl Ward (10-0-36-1) helped to stem their momentum.
A watching Steven Finn must have wished he was opening the bowling again as Wharton in particular flayed a wayward attack. When he was eventually caught on the boundary, having struck 70 in boundaries, there were useful knocks by Matt Sampson (21), Chris Jackson (14), Michael Robertson (14) and Ian Osborne, who anchored the innings with a patient 22 not out.
Overall, Reed should be satisfied with 11 hard-won bonus points.
Report submitted by Peter Wholley.
