Reed entertained a Northampton Exiles XI in a hastily arranged friendly on Saturday. Under uncharacteristic blue skies and the unseasonal icy wind, the visitors made steady progress against the new ball, until Josh Conley (3-37) removed their top order. Only Amar Patel resisted with a patient 63, having survived a sharp caught and bowled chance off Conley's final ball, as Reed chipped away, taking wickets on a regular basis. Tom Greaves (2-27) flushed out the middle order whilst Will Heslam (1-15) and Phil Frenay (2-19) cleaned out the tail in uncustomary roles as the 'fifth' bowler. When Patel was run out Exiles finished on 154. In reply the Heslam brothers never looked in any trouble as they cantered to an opening stand of 126 off 23 overs, both retiring fittingly with 56 apiece. The match was swiftly concluded by Chris Jackson (7*) and Rob Lankester (20*), the latter hoisting a huge maximum over the bowler's head. Hence Reed won by 10 wickets as a warm up for some more demanding challenges to come this season. Report by Peter Wholley.