Reed 1st XI got their Championship campaign off to a winning start away at Shenley Village. Reed are expecting a hard fought campaign with a number of sides busy with signings over the winter but hope to mount a serious challenge again as they did last season. Presented with a wicket impacted a little by the recent cool and wet weather and in overcast conditions Reed captain James Heslam was disappointed to lose the toss and be put into bat but the notoriously good Shenley wicket still looked decent and spirits were high. Unfortunately the innings got off to the worst possible start when Sean Tidey was run out off the first ball. However, new signing Rich Wharton looked immediately at home and up for the fight. Wharton and Heslam (15) steadied the ship and took the score along to 39-1 off 11 overs. However trying not to let the change bowler settle Heslam looked to go over the top and went caught. When Tom Greaves was out early Reed were suddenly in a spot of bother at 41-3. Nevertheless this brought the man for the situation to the crease Chris Jackson and he and Wharton settled things down nicely. By the time Wharton went for a well-made 55 the innings had recovered to 99-4 off 32 overs. Despite the recovery the innings was in need of acceleration and Alex Mutucamarana returning from a hamstring injury preventing him from playing in the pre-season immediately settled and scored freely. Mutucamarana and Jackson upped the rate and at 165-4 off 42 overs things looked a whole lot better for Reed. Although Mutucamarana then went for an excellent 40 off 30 balls, Mitchell Cooper (15), Phil Lill (9*) [...]