Curk in a hurry as Reed crush Nomads

REED'S Sunday team remain unbeaten following a comprehensive 150-run win over North Herts League Division One rivals Crawley Green Nomads.

Skipper Marcus Martin chose to bat first, and opening pair Richard Johnson and Matt Bowles did well to negotiate the opening 10 overs following some decent bowling from A Jethwa and M Jethwa, as they took the score to 33.

And when Bowles was dismissed, Joe Curk entered the fray and alongside Johnson, set about increasing the Reed run-rate.

Curk (47) was soon in the groove and plundered two 4s and five 6s before he was eventually caught in the deep.

Johnson showed his class by passing the 50-mark, while new playing partner Phil Frenay also impressed as he too found the boundary with ease.

When Johnson (64) went in the 37th over, Frenay remained in control with 44 not out, with Fergus Martin (3) and the big hitting Graham Hazard (11 not out) helping Reed to 216 for 4 off their allotted 40 overs.

After Richard Johnson's superb showing with the bat, it was another Johnson who starred with the ball, as Lee Johnson began to rip through the hapless Crawley batsmen with his accurate pace bowling, taking six wickets, including five clean bowled.

Martin (6-1-27-2) also bowled well as he took two more wickets, including the dangerous A Jethwa (32).

The final two wickets came as just reward for spin bowler, Jason Pallett, who bowled a superb spell of 4.1-3-1-2 to leave Crawley Green all out for just 66 in 22.1 overs.

Martin said: "I was very pleased with the performance, both with the bat and the ball.

"Richard Johnson was superb, and it's great to see Phil Frenay looking in fine form too.

"Then with the ball Lee Johnson was also brilliant, as was Jason Pallett.

"It's just shame we have had three of our five games rained off as we could have been looking at top spot after this win.