Reed won their tenth league match of the season against a winless Botany Bay to go top of the Championship for the first time this year.
Ed Wharton (2-38) and Jack Tidey (1-42) reduced the home side to 21-3, but a feisty stand of 80 between Husnane Shah (55) and Qaisir Shah (52) with 19 x 4’s and 3 x 6’s put Reed on the back foot. However, for the second time in a month, Mitchell Cooper (10-4-29-5) destroyed the middle order, including the half centurions. With the ‘spin twins’, Tom Greaves and Sean Tidey, taking a wicket apiece, Botany Bay collapsed to 161 all out.
Once again, pinch hitter, Ed Wharton, smashed the opening attack to all parts of the ground, scoring 61 from 33 balls . Qaisir Shah went for 50 in 4 overs, but came back to take 4-88 bowling throughout the innings. It took a carefully built 45 not out from Rob Lankester to anchor Reed’s reply and an entertaining cameo of 19 not out from Richard Wharton steered them to a satisfying 5 wicket victory.
With four games to play, Reed have a real chance of promotion to the top division.
Report submitted by Peter Wholley.
