Reed Seconds kept up their good form with a solid performance against Hitchin Seconds at The Green. Electing to bat first on a slow pitch, openers Barlow and Frenay (46) put on 57 for the first wicket. The introduction of Patadia sent both openers back to the pavilion with 88 on the board. Enter Chris Jackson who hadn’t been dismissed in his four previous knocks.
Reed upped the ante after drinks with Jackson building partnerships with Marcus Martin (24) , Jack Caine (19) and skipper Ed Garrott (21). A late burst of runs pushed Reed over the 200 mark finishing on 222-6 from their 50 overs.
Hitchin started their chase quickly with Chris Maylin (55) and Bayston (36) putting on 69 for the first wicket. Ed Garrott brought himself on and trapped Bayston lbw. Then the first of three run outs, this one by Marcus Martin, brought Reed back into contention at drinks.
Again it was the drinks break that proved the innings turning point. Hitchin slumped from 107-2 to 160-8. Matt Bowles (2-34) and Marcus Martin with a match winning (4-27) pushed Reed towards victory backed by superb catching, Matt Giblin and Phil Frenay in particular, and the two further run-outs, (both by skipper Garrott), Hitchin were dismissed in the 49th over for 186, leaving Reed winners by 36 runs.
Reed stay top of Division 4B with five matches remaining in the League Season.
Reed 2nd XI 222-6 in 50 overs (30 pts.) beat Hitchin 2nd XI 186 all out in 48.1 overs (12 pts.) by 36 runs.
Match Report submitted by Neil Haslam.
