Reed won their tenth league match of the season against a winless Botany Bay to go top of the Championship for the first time this year. Ed Wharton (2-38) and Jack Tidey (1-42) reduced the home side to 21-3, but a feisty stand of 80 between Husnane Shah (55) and Qaisir Shah (52) with 19 x 4’s and 3 x 6’s put Reed on the back foot. However, for the second time in a month, Mitchell Cooper (10-4-29-5) destroyed the middle order, including the half centurions. With the ‘spin twins’, Tom Greaves and Sean Tidey, taking a wicket apiece, Botany Bay collapsed to 161 all out. Once again, pinch hitter, Ed Wharton, smashed the opening attack to all parts of the ground, scoring 61 from 33 balls . Qaisir Shah went for 50 in 4 overs, but came back to take 4-88 bowling throughout the innings. It took a carefully built 45 not out from Rob Lankester to anchor Reed’s reply and an entertaining cameo of 19 not out from Richard Wharton steered them to a satisfying 5 wicket victory. With four games to play, Reed have a real chance of promotion to the top division. Report submitted by Peter Wholley.

Reed’s batsmen ran into form as they cruised to 302-6 against Botany Bay. In a game where five batsmen scored 50’s, Ed Wharton gave them a flying start with a quick-fire 28. Will Heslam then made the first half ton with 52 of his 56 coming in boundaries. A steady partnership of 89 between Richard Wharton (52) and Matt Sampson (59) built the foundations for an imposing total, while Rob Lankester (21) and Tom Greaves (26) added useful runs. In reply, Reed’s bowlers always had control of the visitor’s innings, despite fine knocks from Shadrach Gittens-Browne (59) and the Hussain brothers – Zawar (56) and Khalid (41). Ed Wharton’s 8 overs cost a meagre 18 runs, while Matt Sampson (5-1-18-2) ensured that the Bay batsmen never managed to keep up with the run rate. An extraordinary final over from Marcus Martin started with two massive maximums and ended with 3 wickets in 4 balls, Rob Lankester pouching the last of his 3 catches on the deep mid-wicket boundary. Botany Bay were all out for 230 after 46 overs, Reed winning by 72 runs. Report submitted by Peter Wholley.