As he continues to do, Captain Bowman won the toss and invited Letchworth to bat on a very dry pitch. The first 20 overs had an ominous feeling with Connor Pond, on a run fest against us for the second time this season. Then after the drinks break and a number of bowling changes, Steve Hughes bowled Pond (131) to a loud cry of rejoice from the bowler, this batman having collected 363 runs against Reed this season. The first wicket being a stand of 178. Meanwhile the other opener, Cruttenden (89), continued to collect runs before Bowman took an excellent catch off Matt Yates (8-1-49-1). Wickets continued to fall at the other end, with the bowlers sharing the spoils, with those having bowled to Pond not being as economical with the exception of Neil Haslam (7-0-41-0) who's first ball had gone for 6. The other figures being Martin Johnson (8-2-53-2), Hughes (7-1-62-2), Matt Naeem (8-0-50-1) and Jonny Adam (2-0-9-0). Letchworth achieved 274 for 6 off their 40 overs. After tea, and with Pond opening the bowling, Reed started well, treating the bowling of Pond with respect but collecting runs from the generally young bowling attack. Martin Johnson’s rich vein of form was to continue, as he made his way to his third consecutive hundred, an unbeaten 131, with 26 boundaries, two of which were 6’s. He was ably supported by Paul Garrott (37) and Peter Baker (32) with stands of 82 and 85 for the first and second wickets. Baker collecting most of his runs in boundaries. Reed achieved their winning total of 275 in the 30th over, with Bill Mansfield (10) and Bowman (13) supporting Johnson towards the end of the innings. Extras [...]

Reed’s Fourth XI hosted Letchworth’s Fifth XI at the Freman Oval on Saturday. Lloyd Bowman won the toss and asked the visitors to bat. Reed opened the bowling with youngsters Jake Gifford (Buntingford End) and Jack Wilkerson (Reed End). After a cautious opening couple of overs Letchworth Opener Connor Pond from set off on a match defining innings. He punished both Gifford (7-0-53-0) and Wilkerson (4-0-47-0) as the 50 was brought up in the sixth over. A change of bowling altered nothing and Pond took a particular liking to Steve Hughes (4-0-74-0) hitting him for thirty in one over, although he was dropped on the boundary three times in the process. The run rate accelerated to above ten an over and the 100 came up in just the eleventh over. Reed was looking down the barrel of a gigantic score. On Pond went, passing his own century and 150 before the eighteenth over. Martin Johnson bowled Letchworth’s other opener Cruttenden for 20 out of an opening partnership of 189. Nowland soon followed for just 4 also bowled by Johnson. Heath joined Pond and on he went on, although pushing his luck as Reed failed to pouch a further three chances to dismiss him. He brought up his double century with yet another boundary. With Letchworth’s score on 284, it proved to be lucky seven for the hosts when Johnson bowled a beautiful slower ball to Pond who picked out Ben Mansfield at deep mid-on and he was finally out for 229. Reed needed to limit Pond’s damage and Neil Haslam (8-0-51-4) with his inswing and away cut and Johnson’s variety of pace (7-0-70-3) put the brakes on Letchworth’s middle order as wickets began to fall [...]