This week Reed 4th XI took a break from league fixtures, to play an away 45/45 friendly against a Totteridge Milhillians side, who were scouting the strength of the lower divisions with a view of entering a team into the same league next season. Clear blue skies greeted Reed who won the toss and skipper Bowman opted to bowl first. With Julien Fynn (7-2-11-0) and Zac Conley (9-0-42-0) opening the bowling, the opposition found it hard to find runs on a large boundary with a slow outfield. However wickets were also difficult to find, and the Totteridge opening partnership of M. Pratt (15) and Bhardia (42) slowly put runs on the board. The first breakthrough came after a change of bowling, with Kieren Willoughby catching a loose shot from Bhardia off Mansfield’s (7-0-49-1) bowling and Reed’s new man Martin Johnson (9-1-32-1) introducing himself to the club bowling tight lines and dismissing M. Pratt. As the runs ticked over Reed still couldn’t find the wickets, not helped by two regulation catches being dropped by a returning player. More changes of bowling brought on another debutant, Ewan Rees (6-0-20-0), and returning spinner, M.H. Naeem (7-0-40-3). Despite 3 wickets from Naeem and a run-out from some quick fielding by Willoughby, the hosts managed to bat out their 45 overs putting on 224-6. Following a tea which was supplemented by left-overs from a party next door, openers P. Baker and S. Hoye looked to put together a partnership on which Reed could build upon. Hoye (14) was first to go after 10 overs, run out after looking for a quick single. This was the catalyst for a mini collapse as Baker (18) was bowled, then G. Adams (0) was [...]