Reed Second XI entertained their opposite numbers from Hemel Hempstead on a glorious day at The Green. Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Reed lost Richard Johnson early for just 4. It brought Matt Sampson to the crease and he and Paul Garrott set about building an innings defining partnership. Garrott played the anchor role, whilst Sampson assumed the role of playmaker. Punishing anything lose the partnership raced to 124 with Sampson passing his 50 also. After Garrott fell for an obstinate 21, in came Kallum Ward and he continued the Reed onslaught with Sampson. Sampson reached a deserved century off just 121 balls, before being run out for 104 when bowler Wheeler deflected the ball onto the stumps off a Ward strike with him out of his ground backing up. Michael Robertson joined Ward and they took the score to 245 before Ward fell for 48 off 39 balls. Robertson soon followed for 39 off 26 balls. Despite some late wickets for the Hemel bowlers, Reed ended their 50 overs on an imposing 282 for 8. Reed's opening bowling attack of Jullien Fynn (9-1-31-1) and Owen Hughes (5-0-21-1 ) gave the home side the perfect start leaving Hemel at 13 for 2. Morgan and A Hopkins set about rebuilding the innings but they soon fell behind the required run rate. After a 97 run partnership, the wickets soon began to tumble, Anirudh Sudharshan (10-3-31-2) bowled with zip and accuracy and skipper Matt Bowles (9.5-0-43-3) bowled with his usual guile. 14-year-old Charlie Walters (3-1-11-1) took a wicket with his first ball, one of two catches for man of the match Sampson. Not even a last wicket stand of 37 could prevent the inevitable [...]