Although unbeaten as captain of the second team, Ed Garrott is yet to win a toss as skipper, and consequently Ampthill elected to bat first. Opening up for Reed were Karl Ward and Matt Giblin. The Ampthill openers started up well, and quite quickly reached 31 without loss. Giblin then with a ball, somewhere in the fine boundary between a long hop and a bouncer, surprised the Ampthill opener who skied the ball, which was well caught at point by Paul Garrott. Giblin shortly after claimed the second opener, caught, to swing the game back in Reed’s favour.
From this point on, the game remained firmly in Reed’s control, with Ward unlucky not to have been rewarded for his efforts opening up. Spin twins Matt Bowles, and soon after, Ed Garrott replaced the opening attack, and further applied the pressure to Ampthill.
Appropriate was the ‘Greatest Showman’ soundtrack being heard from the neighbouring Ampthill Festival, as both spinners rattled through their overs, and the Ampthill batting line up. Aided by some top-level catching from Chris Jackson at slip, both claimed 3 wickets a piece.
2 late runs outs left the hosts all out for 97, with just 32 overs bowled.
Promoted from the 3rds after his recent good form, Paul Garrott certainly didn’t look out of place leading the Reed response with Richard Barlow. Both batted freely, continuing their recent form to add 60 for the first wicket. When Garrott fell bowled for 22, it was left to Jackson and Barlow to finish the game off, playing some fine shots to reach the target in the 19th over.
Match Report submitted by Matt Giblin.
