A mixed Reed team travelled away to Welwyn Garden City II’s on Sunday for a friendly. Reed captain Marcus Martin won the toss and chose to bat in the chilly and blustery conditions.Reed got off to a positive start with Matt Bowles and Richard Johnson playing a fine array of shots to get Reed off to a flyer. The pair put on 50 for the 1st wicket, when speedster Wiles held on brilliantly to a sharp caught and bowled chance to remove Bowles (9). WGC bowler Meyer was then introduced into the attack and took the wickets of Swain (6) and Naeem (5).However the brilliant Johnson was playing magnificently, and soon reached 50 as he was joined by Bobby Coston at the crease. The pair hit the Welwyn bowlers all around the park, with Johnson reaching a superb 110 before he was given out LBW by umpire George Daws. Coston continued his good form, finishing on 77 Not Out, ably assisted by a few lusty blows from Graham Hazard (10) and a contribution from captain M Martin (4 Not Out). Reed closed their 50 overs on 248 for 5.In reply Reed’s opening bowlers Rupert Martin and youngster Mitchell Cooper, restricted Welwyn’s progress with some superb line and length bowling. Cooper then had Meyer caught in stunning fashion by Marcus Martin.A decent partnership between Watkins and Stansfield then followed, until Reed all-rounder Karl Ward had Stansfield caught behind by ‘keeper Hazard. Ward then took 3 more quick wickets with some special bowling, ripping through the Welwyn middle order to leave WGC in a precarious position.WGC opener Watkins remained however, and reached a good 50 after taking a liking to Marcus Martin’s medium pacers before he was [...]

Reed 1st XI travelled away to Sawbridgeworth for a cricket conference fixture on Sunday, due to having no Herts league fixture.In cloudy but fairly mild conditions, Reed captain Marcus Martin lost the toss and his side were put into the field by Sawbridgeworth. The home side started in solid fashion, reaching 44 for the first wicket despite tight line and length bowling from Rupert Martin and Andrew Wholley. It was Martin that got the 1st wicket, having Kirkpatrick caught ‘skying’ a pull shot by Richard Johnson , which was a real surprise to all in the field. Wholley then bowled new batsman Marshall with a pacey delivery to leave Sawbridgeworth 59-2.The rest of the Sawbridgeworth innings was slow going in terms of run rate, with Reed’s strong bowling attack stifling the beleaguered batsmen. Pacey spells from Richard Johnson and captain Marcus Martin both yielded a wicket each , but it was Reed’s slower bowlers that had the most joy. Neil Haslam took 3 for 19 in his 6 overs, including the dangerous Small for 49 after good work by Reed keeper Kumar Bunkerkarra. Karl Ward’s positive spell also netted him 3 wickets to end the Sawbridgeworth innings on 159.In reply Reed sent out Ed Blissett and Simon Jackson to open the batting. The pair batted in a slow but steady fashion, with Reed on 56 for no wicket after 20 overs. After this, the pair began to up the pace, with Jackson looking in good form. Blissett’s strike rate also increased to its normal high level, pushing the score onto 115 before Blissett was bowled by Small on 44. The game then swung towards Sawbridgeworth as first new batsmen Mike Jackson was removed for a [...]

Reed entertained Offley and Stopsley on Sunday, looking to end a run of two consecutive defeats in North Herts division 1. Captain Marcus Martin won the toss, and elected to put the visitors into bat.Reed’s opening attack of Richard Johnson and Rupert Martin soon had Offley and Stopsley in trouble, with Johnson removing Brody’s middle stump with the score on just 10. However, Barker and Bridgland began to build some momentum for the batting side, and progressed the score towards 50. Barker was looking solid, until a fiery bouncer from Richard Johnson stuck him in the face and a lengthy pause ensued as the injured batsmen was assessed by qualified first aider Ed Blissett. Barker was unable to continue, and needed stitches in a face wound. This brought Bexfield to the crease to partner Bridgland. The introduction of Andrew Wholley into the bowling attack soon paid off as Bridgland was expertly caught at gully by the agile Phil Frenay, with the score now on 59-2, plus the injured Barker. Bexfield remained however, and was looking good as he struck boundaries at regular intervals. Skipper Marcus Martin then brought himself on, and in tandem with Wholley, he slowed the visitors scoring rate. Martin also snared the wicket of Tattersall for just 2, whilst Wholley had Choudary caught behind brilliantly by wicket keeper Graham Hazard.Bexfield was still unbeaten, and had progressed his own score onto 44 before Karl Ward breached his defences and bowled him leaving Offley and Stopsley on 140-5. It took a useful and powerful knock from Lunney down the order to bump the batting score up to a defendable total. Lunney struck the ball well as he made a quick fire and unbeaten 40 [...]

Reed seconds faced Radio news this week, Reed were put in to bat by the opposition to which was a surprise to stand in skipper Karl Ward as it was a batsman’s paradise. Openers Aiden Swain and under 15 Callum Kitscha both took it to the bowlers straight away with the ball striking the bat nicely. Kitscha was unluckily to be run out for a solid 39 putting a 115 on the scoreboard for the first wicket. Swain continued to hold up before being given out LBW for a powerful 72. This sparked a mini collapse for the hosts with veteran Alan Ward dubiously given out LBW. It fell down to two brothers Kallum Ward and Karl Ward to try and Re-establish the inning. Both played shots to all parts of the ground putting on an 88 partnership for the sixth wicket before Kallum was run out for a well worked 21, Karl carried on meeting the ball with the middle of his bat striking many balls to the boundary to finish with 77 not out. Leaving Radio News 282 to win. The pick of the bowlers were Patrick (8-0-22-2) and Maby (8-0-50-2). In the field Reed took a little while to get the break though until Alan Ward (4-1-16-1) picked up the wicket of Cummine (35). Despite the loss of his opening partner Dudman went on to make 134 putting the pressure on Reed until Karl Ward took a superb hatrick finishing with figures of (7-3-25-4). Youngster Bloor applied pressure with his vicious leg spin to keep the pressure on removing the vital wicket of Butler who looked a dangerous batsman. In the end it was left to all rounder Kallum Ward to wrap [...]

Reed were unable to maintain their NVC momentum after their drubbing of Langleybury the previous week, as they fell agonisingly close to beating North Mymms on Sunday to book their place in the regional final, emulating the previous season. The north Hertfordshire side were forced to play at the Herts County Premier League team’s home ground, adjacent to the cacophony of the A1M, yet it was Reed who were sent packing back up to Hertfordshire’s agricultural bread basket following a strong bowling performance by North Mymms.Having lost the toss, Reed were asked to field on a pitch that was perfectly suited to batting, and they set abut demonstrating how this was done, as Graham Wilson (8-0-40-0) was set upon early by C Stead (34) and K Claxton (38). Andrew Young (9-0-41-0) bowled with exemplary control in his second 1XI bowling session after knee surgery, as was unlucky not to take a wicket despite some magical deliveries and constant edges through the slips for 4. It took a sharp run-out by Chris Jackson, exploiting youngster Claxton’s misjudgement running out his captain, for Reed to make a breakthrough, but this only encouraged Claxton to dig in more as he settled with partner Bamford (31) to take the score to 102 for 1 off 18 overs. The signs looked ominous for Reed until Chris Jackson (9-1-30-3) came on to bowl in partnership with William Clarke (9-0-29-2) as they both put the brakes on the run rate by bowling accurate spin and seam deliveries. Jackson made the breakthrough having Bamford caught by wicketkeeper Simon Jackson early. Clarke then bowled opener Claxton with a yorker to leave the hosts on 111-3. The bowling pair continued to dry up the runs [...]

Reed, for a second consecutive time in two years, dumped Langleybury out of the National Village Cup on Sunday. Division 2 Reed beat top-of-the-table Division 1 Langleybury by 9 wickets with 2.5 overs to spare thanks to a blistering ton by skipper James Heslam.Underdogs Reed were due to face Langleybury at home the previous week, but due to inclement weather was rescheduled for Sunday 3rd at Langleybury, setting the same scene by winning the regional finals the previous year with an 8 wicket victory.Winning the toss, Heslam elected to field on what emerged to be a good batting wicket. Peter Tidey (9-2-30-0) stamped his trademark tight inswingers on proceedings as he kept runs to a minimum. However, the batting paradise took hold as Langleybury openers, G Cooper (71) and R Channer (72) capitalised on the true pace to build a responsible first wicket partnership of 161. It took a mis-timed run from Channer to gift Reed with a breakthrough as William Clarke gathered the ball and Simon Jackson broke the stumps to help complete a run-out at the striker’s end. This proved Reed’s opening, as wickets fell at regular intervals thanks to a tireless second spell from Graham Wilson (9-0-45-4), some improved fielding, and a sharp stumping by keeper Simon Jackson. However, A Gunning (54) stood firm as he proved to be the pillar as wickets fell around him. Wilson and William Clarke (5-0-38-1) in his second spell, managed to restrict runs in the closing overs to give Langleybury a total of 248-6 off 40 overs.A confident Langleybury enjoyed their tea, as a sunbaked and withered Reed attack prepared for their reply, hoping to start in the same nonchalant manner as the previous year when [...]

Reed went down away to Ickleford on Sunday after the home side amassed a large total thanks mainly to a faultless century from Ickleford (not so) regular and Hitchin 1st team captain Millward.Losing the toss, Marcus Martin’s side were put into the field and straight way the task ahead of them looked a tough one, with their young and inexperienced bowling attack being put to the sword by openers Robinson (45) and Millward, in one of his rare appearances for Ickleford.. The pair took the score to beyond 100 inside 17 Overs, and did so without looking troubled by any bowler. Reed then introduced youngster Fergus Martin into the attack, and his 1st ball brought instant rewards, as he had Robinson well caught by Robertson at square leg.Giggle then joined Millward, who had begun to free his arms and plunder boundaries at will. A 40 run partnership ensued, and captain Martin had run out of options having tried all of his regular bowlers on the field. A cometh the hour, cometh the man moment was needed, and Matt Bowles duly obliged. Bowles, bowling for the 1st time on over a year, mixed up leg and off spin in the style of Sachin Tendulker, and was rewarded when Giggles was deceived by the flight and gave Ward a straightforward catch at mid off. However Millward remained, and completed and excellent century, alongside the fast scoring Jenner (55), who was later run out. Millward finished 116 Not Out, and Ickleford were 250-3 off of 40 Overs.In reply, Reed got off to a disastrous start, with Robertson and Frenay being dismissed inside the first 3 Overs, with the score on just 8. Skipper Marcus Martin and the ever [...]

Reed chased 186 in vain this Sunday in an entertaining North Herts League game at home to Ickleford. A frustrating afternoon for the hosts began when they lost Neil Haslam and Karl Ward shortly before the game due to injury and Village cup commitments. However as usual Reed were able to call upon some promising youngsters with Mitchell Cooper and Naeem (Jnr.) both taking three wickets a piece. The warm conditions and suprising lack of bounce at Reed made it hard work for their young bowlers, subsequently waiting untill the twentieth over for the first breakthrough, that of the hard hitting Millword (44)with the score on 84. Incidently many batsman on both teams made good starts but failed to post a substantial score. Ed Blissett looked well set for Reed before being caught on 47, Barlow (19) and Naeem (snr.) (21) perished in the same fashion leaving Reed with a mountain to climb. T. Greaves (5) and captain P. Baker (30) threatened to take the score on but some tight bowling from an experienced Ickleford side sealed a 38 run victory. Reed eventually finishing on 147-8 from their 40 overs.

Reed went down to their heaviest defeat of the Sunday North Herts League Division 1 season on Sunday, after a dismal display against a strong Houghton Town team.Despite the final score, Reed got off to a decent enough start, with Richard Johnson (8-1-26-0) and Andy Wholley (7-1-38-1) bowling well, with Wholley clean bowling Amjad for a duck. However, a good partnership between Faisal (50) and Nariner (32) helped get over the slow start. Captain Marcus Martin then introduced himself into the attack, and began to rip onto the Houghton batsmen with his hostile pace bowling. Martin took 2 key wickets, including that of Nariner. Jason Archer also bowled well, the slow medium bowler taking 2 golden wickets in his 7 over spell, split in half to allow him a to have a liquid break. Karl Ward and Rupert Martin also picked up a wicket apiece, but it was poor fielding that was to cost Reed yet again, and allow Houghton off of the hook. The big hitting Kashie ended up on 84, this despite being dropped no less than 5 times, including once on single figures. When Marcus Martin eventually got his man, to finish on good figures of (5-0-27-3), the damage had already been done. Houghton finished on 241 off of their 40 Overs. Reed’s misery was compounded when they also lost batsman Michael Robertson to a badly injured finger leaving them with only 10 players.Reed’s reply started reasonably enough, with openers Ed Blissett and Phil Frenay putting on 24 for the 1st wicket, before Frenay was bowled by Azad for 10. Arshad then bowled Reed’s other opener Blissett for 12 leaving Reed in some trouble on 34-2 chasing a big total. Richard Johnson [...]

Reed lost out to North Herts League Division 1 champions Holwell on Sunday in a high scoring game on ‘The Green’, after poor fielding let the home side down.Winning the toss and batting first, Reed openers Tom Fulk (8) and Phil Frenay (0) both fell early, victims of Howell’s ‘pacemen’ Parkins and Dixon respectively. Dixon also accounted for Michael Robertson (4) to leave Reed struggling on 17-3. Richard Barlow and Karl Ward showed good resilience for Reed however, with Barlow looking solid and Ward finding boundaries to take Reed over the 50 mark. However, Dixon struck again, first to remove Ward for 22, and then Barlow for 11 to leave the home side in deep trouble on 64-5 after 14 Overs.Reed captain Marcus Martin and Richard Johnson then set about Salvaging the innings. Both Batsmen showed their class, with a fine array of shots played on both sides of the wicket. Martin was playing a captains innings, and Johnson’s sublime technique gave the Holwell bowlers a tough time. Martin reached his 50 with 8 boundaries, and Johnson also made 50 hitting six 4’s. Johnson was eventually bowled by off spinner Paola for 53, but Martin remained unbeaten at this point. Matt Bowles joined his captain in the middle with Overs running out, and the pair took the score to 197, before Martin was caught for a magnificent 76. Bowles then hit his way to 14 not out, and Reed finished their 40 Overs on 213-7.In reply, Holwell were faced with the pace attack of Andy Wholley and Rupert Martin. Despite some good bowling, especially early on from Wholley, Holwell’s opening batsmen Parkins and Rudder remained, and began to free their arms and find the boundaries. [...]