Losing the toss meant Reed IV were invited to bat against top-of-the table Datchworth Third XI at the Freman College Oval. Ignoring the rain-affected match last weekend that was abandoned after a mere eleven deliveries, this was Reed’s first match for three weeks and saw the return of some past players, and the debuts of some others. David Hill, who scored 5 fours in his 21 runs, and Peter Baker, 4 fours in his 20, put together an opening partnership of 45 in only 8 overs. But they were both out within the space of four deliveries and Datchworth fought back to put Reed at 54 for 4 after a further 11 overs. Bygrave ended with 3 wickets and the younger Kieran Atkinson took 4 as Reed slowly used-up the overs and tried to achieve a defendable total. Josh Conley made 17 but the major contributor was the vastly improved Kieran Willoughby who reached 39 by marshalling the tail-enders. Unfortunately there was a mis-calculation on the last ball of the fortieth over when Jack Childs, who had been playing competently, was run-out by a short margin. Reed were all-out for 129 with Willoughby the not out batsman. After the tea interval, Datchworth had fifty overs at their disposal and were in no hurry to pursue the target. However, they certainly did not have an easy ride. Both Childs, (0 for 29), and Owen Hughes, (0 for 10 from 6 overs), beat the bat and found the edges, the ball just eluding the hands of the waiting keeper and slips cordon. First change bowler, Hill bowled aggressively and he too had the batsmen jumping about but as the boundary at Freman Oval is hard to defend, [...]