Captain Lloyd Bowman won the toss and asked Potters Bar to bat. The 10 Reed cricketers took the field on a hot afternoon. The opening pair of Matt Yates (4-1-14-0) and Jack Childs (18 runs from 7 overs) restricted the run rate, with both openers finding scoring difficult, which was to be the ongoing trend for this match. Because he was carrying an injury, Yates was replaced by Neil Haslam. The experienced Haslam was economical in his first spell of the afternoon conceding 21 from 8 overs. One of the opening batsmen retired halfway through the innings, feeling unwell. Meanwhile Steve Hughes had started his spell, again restricting the run flow and picking up 3 wickets for 43 from 12 overs, the first from a low full toss that the batsman hit firmly to Yates at mid-on to take a good catch. Bill Mansfield took a sharp low catch behind the wicket to give Hughes his second wicket. At 25 overs, the score was 65-2, then 104-4 at 32 overs. Ben Mansfield did a brilliant job in the outfield, restricting the batsmen to singles with his energy and accurate throws. Toby Emes replaced Haslam and took 2 wickets for 26 from 5 overs, one being Bowman taking a good (almost diving) catch in the covers. Haslam returned to finish off his overs ending with 0 for 50 from 12. Childs took the last wicket to fall producing figures of (9-2-23-1) and Potters Bar finished on 162 for 6 off their full 42 overs. Reed started slowly in response to some tight bowling, with Paul Garrott and Steve Hoye opening, Hoye, (6), went early, with Bill Mansfield, (1), following shortly afterwards. The theory being that keeping [...]

After defeat in their opening fixture Reed IV's welcomed Potters Bar to Freman College in their first home fixture of the season. With just 10 men skipper Bowman opted to bowl first. Jake Gifford (6-0-22-2) opened the bowling and began testing the batsman from the start and with the spin of Martin Johnson (5-0-18-2) tying down the batsman at the other end; runs were hard to come by in the first few overs. Gifford finally got his reward forcing both openers to nick behind to Bowman. Not to be underdone by his fellow opener, Johnson also claimed two quick wickets. Change bowlers Steve Hughes (5-0-22-2) and Bill Mansfield (7.5-0-27-3) carried on the good work from the openers and at 57-8 Potters Bar were struggling. A ninth wicket partnership of 32 then frustrated Reed before Jonathan Adam made the breakthrough and Bill Mansfield then claimed the final wicket following a great catch at square leg by Ben Mansfield as Potters Bar were all out for 108 after 26.5 overs. As clouds began to gather around Freman during tea, it was clear that the weather may become a factor later in the afternoon and openers Johnson and Kieran Willoughby set out to score quickly from the offset punishing anything short or offline from openers Barnes (4-0-29-0) and Sarin (4-0-32-0) to the boundary. Johnson looked in fine form before unfortunately being bowled for 49 as Reed were just shy of the total. Fortunately for Reed as the rain looked likely to threaten, Bill Mansfield (12 not out) and Kieran Willoughby (34 not out) quickly steered Reed side home in just 12 overs. A great performance by a depleted Reed side, for their first victory of the 2016 season. [...]