After two weeks of washed-out fixtures, Reed 1st XI looked set for a heavy defeat in their first game of the season as they slumped to 121 all out. They lost two wickets in the first two overs, although a solid partnership between skipper, Rob Lankester, and Sam Osborne (13) established a base to the innings. However when Lankester was LBW to slow left arm, Zimbabwean Connor Mitchell for 46 only Sean Tidey and Toby Fynn reached double figures as Reed lost their last 6 wickets for 31 runs. The signs were ominous when Jamie Regan took 17 from Jack Tidey's first over for 2 years, but Jack soon found his length and ripped out the visitor's top order taking 4 for 33 from his 10 overs, 3 of his victims clean bowled. He has been sorely missed. A wicket apiece for Sam Osborne and Toby Fynn as well as a direct hit run out from Mike Robertson in the covers had St Albans stuttering at 102 for 7, but their eighth wicket ground out the winning runs despite the best efforts of the Reed attack. After all it turned out to be a tight game played thanks to the kind permission of our hosts Cokenach CC. Match Report submitted by Peter Wholley.