Tom Greaves played a captain’s innings of 90 to overhaul Hoddesdon’s daunting total of 245 all out. Coming in at 76-4, he set about the recovery in a partnership of 87 with Stuart Smith (48). When Smith was narrowly run out trying to up the scoring rate, Marcus Martin (26 not out) joined Greaves in another big stand of 79. The latter smashed 6 maximums out of the ground and was caught one-handed on the boundary going for the winning runs. Instead Michael Robertson toe-ended a straight drive over the ropes first ball to give Reed an unexpected victory with four overs to spare. At first, Ed Wharton (24) and Rob Lankester (32) had looked well set, but Jamie Curtis (16-2-56-3) gave Hoddesdon the early momentum.
In Hoddesdon’s innings, knocks of 48 by captain Rob Walters and 62 by South African Jayden Broodryk seemed to have given them the impetus, but astute spin bowling brought Greaves and Marcus Martin 2 wickets apiece and Sean Tidey, the pick of the attack, with figures of 14-1-54-4. Toby Fynn cleaned up 2 more, including the dangerous Brooderyk.
With 249-6, Reed won by 4 wickets.
