After a stand of 95 between Ed (53) and Richard Wharton (30) Reed were sitting pretty at 104-1, but as the damp wicket dried out and Hemel’s spinners took charge, wickets began to tumble. Only Tom Greaves with a patient 18 from 44 balls kept the bowlers at bay as Reed were skittled out for 140, South African Maritz and captain Hodgins sharing 7 wickets for 45 runs between them.
Earlier, a similar pattern occurred in the visitors’ innings as they cruised to 125-2. The game see-sawed, however, when Greaves struck twice either side of the drinks’ break and Sean Tidey ran out Penny their top scorer for 49. Ed Wharton 2-34 and Sean Tidey (3.2-1-2-3) mopped up the tail with Richard Wharton’s stumping, the third of his victim’s in Hemel’s seemingly low total of 186.
It proved too good for Reed though as this week’s weather finally defeated them.
Report submitted by Peter Wholley.
