Reed 1st XI travelled to Hemel Hempstead on July 30th and won convincingly in the Herts Premier League Championship. Reed won the toss and opted to bat on what looked to be a greenish wicket. However Hemel put on an opening partnership of 59 between Ilangorante (36) and Melbourne (35). From this point the day belonged to Toby Fynn (20 overs, 5 maidens, 4 wickets for 52 runs) and Tom Greaves (14.4-4-4-43). Wickets continued to tumble with Hemel being reduced to 111 for 9. However, a last wicket partnership of 25 saw Hemel bowled out for 136. A total Reed should easily have been able to chase down with 70 overs to bat. Nevertheless, Reed looked in real trouble at six for three after four overs, having lost both Heslam brothers and Tom Greaves. But this brought Chris Jackson (62 not out) and Alex Mutucumarana (30) to the wicket. Mutumacarana threw caution to the wind and scored a rapid 30 before he was caught by Waterton off Hodgins but he had put Reed in the driving seat at 54 for 4. This brought Ed Garrott to the wicket who played an excellent innings of 27 before he was run out with Reed needing just 17 runs for victory. Meanwhile Chris Jackson played a masterful innings guiding Reed safely home to claim an important victory. Next weekend Reed face in-form Langleybury at home in what should be an intriguing contest between two closely matched teams. Report submitted by RMR.

Reed plucked victory from the jaws of defeat against Hemel Hempstead. Last year's Premiership side looked to have the game sewn up by reducing Reed to 105-7 chasing 161, but a battling partnership between Sean Tidey (36) and Mitchell Cooper (23 not out) saw Reed home by 2 wickets. Hemel struggled to find any tempo against an economical Reed attack with Mitchell Cooper, Toby Fynn (10-1-23-1) and Reece Fitzgerald (10-1-31-0) all bowling a fine line and length. Only opener, Hemish Llangaratne with a patient 50 defied the bowlers. However, Tom Greaves turned the match with a second spell of 5 overs 4-14. Mitchell Cooper (9.3-1-29-4) then mopped up the tail in the last over to leave the hosts with a modest target. However, Reed were soon in trouble at 4-2, needing the resilience of Rob Lankester and Chris Jackson to build their innings. When Jackson was out for 36 still needing 56 to win with 3 wickets remaining all seemed lost, but first Tidey and then Cooper dispatched the visitors' attack to the boundary to secure a third league victory out of four and maintain Reed's 2nd position in the Championship table. Report submitted by Peter Wholley.