Reed 2nds came back from their trip to Hertford 3rds this weekend with an emphatic victory.
Stand-in skipper Ward had little hesitation in electing to bat in the hot Hertfordshire sun. Bowles (30) and Johnson (57) got Reed off to an excellent start as they carefully negotiated the new ball. The pair put on 83 for the first wicket before Bowles picked out the man on the long on boundary. Johnson was joined by Ed Garrott (17) and soon passed fifty in typically elegant fashion before a mix up left Johnson run out. Garrott then fell having looked set and Reed were in danger of losing their impetus.
Enter George Teeboon (78) who plundered the Hertford change bowlers all over Balls Park, ably supported by the in form George Garrott (31). The pair took the score from 123-3 in the 31st over to 220 in the 42nd over when Garrott was out caught. Teeboon fell soon after, caught & bowled, but the damage was done by this point. There was still time for Ward (28) to play a cameo role with the bat as Reed got to 274-9 declared off of 49 Overs.
With 51 overs to chase Reed’s total, the last thing the hosts needed were early wickets. However, Joe Graves (10-2-28-3) struck in only the 3rd over thanks to a sharp catch by keeper Tim Tidey. A calamitous run out soon followed before Ed Garrott took a spectacular catch at gulley off of Graves to leave Hertford 31-3.
Ward (6-1-20-2) and the returning Julien Fynn struck (8.4-1-29-2) thanks to some great catching by Rob Willoughby. Matt Bowles (7-1-29-1) and George Garrott (4-1-15-1) also got in on the action.
A few spurned chances from the Reed fielders threatened to let Hertford sneak off with a draw, but Fynn returned for a second spell to bounce out the number 11 and leave Hertford all out for 151
Report submitted by Matt Bowles.
