With a team filled with youngsters, players returning from University and three old boys the Thirds travelled to Leverstock Green on a fine sunny day.Luckily, the Reed captain chose tails and lost the toss. Even luckier was the fact the host’s captain was unaware that Reed did not have much batting as all of the younger players arrived late in the two cars that got lost, and elected to bat.George Garrott, playing his first game of the season, opened the bowling and bowled with accuracy, returning figures of 12-5-1-16. His performance deserving of more then the one wicket he picked up. At the other end Jack Caine held more than his own and the Leverstock openers found it difficult to get bat on ball let alone pick up runs. Caine finished his two spells with figures of 9–1–2-28. The first change bowlers of Reese Fitzgerald (9-4-2-14) and Matt Naeem (7-1-2-21), kept the pressure on and aided by some excellent fielding, Scot Caine standing out with three superb catches in the covers, Reed had the hosts on 48 for 5. The hosts rallied and a couple of useful stands took them to a total of 137 all out after 48 overs. Reed 10 nil up at tea.On most other weeks, 137 in 52 overs would be extremely possible, sadly it was not to be. The lack of batting was very evident as wickets fell at an alarming rate. At one stage Reed were 11 for 4. Brief fight backs by George Garrott, playing the anchor role, Michael and Maseed Naeem, swinging the bat at every ball, pushed the score along, but at the end Steve Lovegrove was left without any partners on 13 not out, as [...]

Having had the first two league games cancelled due to the weather, the Thirds finally managed to get a game in at Freman College. This was thanks to the immense effort put in by Richard Robertson in preparing the pitch and outfield.Reed were still missing some key players especially in the batting department, Fulk, Barlow, Bowles, Baker and Garrott were either unavailable or had been promoted. However the eleven that did take the field did a splendid job.Winning the toss the Reed captain Maseeh Naeem, had no hesitation in asking the visitors to bat on what was a very damp wicket. The Reed opening bowlers Louis Fitzgerald (6-2-1-9) and Kallum Ward (5-0-0-9) bowled tightly and economically and although Fitzgerald made a breakthrough, it was not a quick bowlers wicket. The first change bowlers really did the damage, Ian Roberts, bowled in tandem with young Reece Fitzgerald, and in their 21 overs took 5 wickets for a miserly 31 runs. Roberts finishing with figures of 10-3-3-11 and Fitzgerald 11-3-2-20. Jack Caine (4-2-2-6) and Naeem (2.2-1-2-5) finished off the Hoddesdon tail to leave the visitors on 62 all out after 38.2 overs. Hoddesdon opener Costigam was the only batsman to get into double figures scoring 27 of the visitor’s runs.With a stand in opening pair of Steve Lovegrove and Julian Fynn the Reed reply got off to a positive start and the runs came quickly. However the pitch was still causing problems, Lovegrove was out caught on 12 attempting to clear the infield, quickly followed by Fynn, bowled with one that stayed low. Reed then had a bit of a wobble, from being comfortable at 36 for two, it was suddenly 44 for 4 and Hoddesdon spirits [...]

Having had the first two league games cancelled due to the weather, the Thirds finally managed to get a game in at Freman College. This was thanks to the immense effort put in by Richard Robertson in preparing the pitch and outfield.Reed were still missing some key players especially in the batting department, Fulk, Barlow, Bowles, Baker and Garrott were either unavailable or had been promoted. However the eleven that did take the field did a splendid job.Winning the toss the Reed captain Maseeh Naeem, had no hesitation in asking the visitors to bat on what was a very damp wicket. The Reed opening bowlers Louis Fitzgerald (6-2-1-9) and Kallum Ward (5-0-0-9) bowled tightly and economically and although Fitzgerald made a breakthrough, it was not a quick bowlers wicket. The first change bowlers really did the damage, Ian Roberts, bowled in tandem with young Reece Fitzgerald, and in their 21 overs took 5 wickets for a miserly 31 runs. Roberts finishing with figures of 10-3-3-11 and Fitzgerald 11-3-2-20. Jack Caine (4-2-2-6) and Naeem (2.2-1-2-5) finished off the Hoddesdon tail to leave the visitors on 62 all out after 38.2 overs. Hoddesdon opener Costigam was the only batsman to get into double figures scoring 27 of the visitor’s runs.With a stand in opening pair of Steve Lovegrove and Julian Fynn the Reed reply got off to a positive start and the runs came quickly. However the pitch was still causing problems, Lovegrove was out caught on 12 attempting to clear the infield, quickly followed by Fynn, bowled with one that stayed low. Reed then had a bit of a wobble, from being comfortable at 36 for two, it was suddenly 44 for 4 and Hoddesdon spirits [...]

This week Reed III's played host to Bovingdon in a mid table clash. Losing the toss Reed bowled first and with Richard Johnson (11.1.43.1) amd Matt Giblin (7.2.13.2) opening the attack Bovingdon were soon in trouble as Giblin bowled both openers cheaply. Stickland (19) and Arnold (42) then put a stand together before the former fell to a catch by Michael Naeem off Ian Roberts (10.5.18.2).Arnold continued to secure one end for Bovingdon but with the introduction of Rhys Fitzgerald a procession of Bovingdon players came and went cheaply. Jack Caine(6.2.14.0)was great support for Fitzgerald who took two wickets in two balls and with catches from Maseeh Maeem and Matt Giblin and a further caught and bowled Rhys finished with figures of 8.4.0.16.5. Johnson came back for a short spell to take his first wicket in two years to wrap up the Bovingdon innings - 121 all out!Richard Johnson and Ben Bowles opened the batting and it soon became clear the total was never enough as both played some excellent drives to register a 50 run opening partnership. Unfortunately Johnson was then bowled for 25 which brought Maseeh Naeem to the crease. The skipper played some lusty shots but very soon lost Ben Bowles as he played on having scored 28. Ian Fulk in his first game of the season played the best shot of the day - a back foot cover drive for four before he too was out LBW for 12. Scott Caine 8 not out and Naeem, not out 43, saw Reed home in just over 25 overs to register a second win of the season.

Playing away to an inform Berkhamstead II's side this weekend Reed took potentially their strongest side of the season to date. Berkhamstead won the toss and elected to field and it soon became clear why as the two opening bowlers set about making scoring difficult on a track that had life and bounce.Richard Barlow and Peter Baker opened with the former surviving a loud caught behind appeal early in the innings before Baker was caught at short midwicket for 4. A procession of batsmen departed courtesy of some poor umpiring and good bowling from Smith. Marcus Martin (4) hit a glorious cover drive to mark his return to cricket but was then given out LBW on a ball everyone bar the umpire and bowler felt he had hit! Ben Bowles (3) played on and Steve Lovegrove (4) was cleaned bowled. At 44 for 4 things did not look good but up stepped George Garrott who together with Barlow began a rescue bid. Barlow went for 25, Maseeh Naeem for 4, Jack Childs for 2 and Rhys Fitzgerald for 0 as the score reached 69 for 8. Garrott and Lewis Fitzgerald (7*) then battled to get the score to 93 for 9 as Garrott finally fell for a valiant 20. Jack Caine was the last to go for 8 but not before he had played the shot of the day - a lofted drive back over the bowler's head for 4. Reed finishing 104 all out.Needing points Reed began well with Garrott (4.1.13.0) and Lewis Fitzgerald (7.1.12.1) making the batsman work for the runs but it was Jack Caine who took the first wicket courtesy of one of Richard Barlow's three catches of the day. Jack [...]