A WEAKENED Reed side managed a creditible draw against a string Knebworth Park team, on Saturday. With Reed missing influential bowlers Pete Tidey, Will Clarke and Andrew Emms through injury and holiday, it was always going to be tough against a Knebworth

A WEAKENED Reed side managed a creditible draw against a string Knebworth Park team, on Saturday.

With Reed missing influential bowlers Pete Tidey, Will Clarke and Andrew Emms through injury and holiday, it was always going to be tough against a Knebworth side led by overseas player Jarrod Turner.

The returning Michael Berks got Reed off to a great start, taking a wicket in his first over.

Berks bowled superbly through a tiring spell on a hot afternoon taking the first three wickets for 55 off 16 overs.

Turner anchored the Knebworth innings, not really prepared to attack or throw his wicket away until Berks cleaned him up and became his final wicket.

However, with Reed spinner Chris Jackson replacing Berks at the pavilion end, the game started to turn in Reed's favour as Knebworth reached 130-3.

Jackson used flight and guile to tie the Knebworth batsmen down and regularly took wickets through his spell.

Jackson claimed the last Knebworth wicket in the 52 over, finishing with career best figures of 6-49 in 13.2 overs as the home side finished on 211.

In reply Reed got off to a disastrous start, losing opener Baz Curtis to a rash shot, before Heslam, Chris Jackson and Frenay departed leaving them at 55-4.

However, Tom Fulk and Simon Jackson set about restoring the Reed innings and tried to ensure they were not skittled out for less than 100.

The partnership reached 70 before Fulk was the first to go for 42.

Jackson followed shortly after but not before he reached his first league 50 for six years.

Despite a few massive blows from Andy Young (22) the loss of a couple more wickets meant that Reed had to shut up shop and play for a draw, finishing on 165-9.

Turner was the main bowler for the home side as he bowled 18 overs on the bounce of his gentle offspin taking 4-49.

Reed are at home to bottom of the table Chorleywood on Saturday.

- Reed III won Division 13 of the Herts League without bowling a ball on Saturday.

Playing in their first season of league cricket, Reed were awarded the 30 points after Luton Town & Indians III pulled out of Saturday's game.

The result meant Letchworth V could not catch Reed.

Reed won seven of their 11 games, with one drawn, two lost and one abandoned. They will now move up to Division 12 where they will face a 19-game season.