At a sunny Freman Oval Rhodri Hughes, the Reed captain, won the toss and elected to field first on a good looking wicket. Saturday saw Reed field three very strong teams as layer availability was good this week! West Herts started brightly finding the odd boundary and running the quick single until Kieran Mckinna (7.5-0-24-4) took the first 2 wickets after which West Herts never really got going, losing batsmen at regular intervals. A few lusty blows from Mushtaq got them up to 114 before he was nicely caught on the boundary by George Garrott. When he came on to bowl, Garrott also took 3 wickets for 25 from his 9 overs. Alex Kelly took one and there were two good run-outs in an outstanding fielding display.
Reed’s reply started well with Richard Johnson and Paul Garrott making it to the tea interval at 44 without loss from 10 overs.
After the interval Johnson carried on magestically, finding the rope with ease. The pair had put on 104 for the 1st wicket when Garrott (43) nicked behind. That started a slight panic in the dressing room as Reed proceeded to lose 3 quick wickets for 3 runs. But George Garrott came in to accompany the classy Johnson, who remained undefeated on 69 at the other end, to see Reed home to win convincingly by 7 wickets. Reed are in 5th position in the Division but technically are fourth owing to Southgate Compton, (who currently head the table), being ineligible to be promoted this season.
Match Report submitted by Paul Garrott.
