REED were again left disappointed as rain runied their home game against Hemel Hempstead II. After winning the toss, on Saturday, Hemel decided to bat on a good wicket. With speedster Andy Young regularly beating the bat without success, Reed got two ea

REED were again left disappointed as rain runied their home game against Hemel Hempstead II.

After winning the toss, on Saturday, Hemel decided to bat on a good wicket.

With speedster Andy Young regularly beating the bat without success, Reed got two early breakthroughs with the combination of bowling from Pete Tidey (2-43 off 13) and sharp catches from wicketkeeper Simon Jackson.

Hemel lost a further wicket thanks to a great catch by Tom Fulk off Michael Berks (1-47 off 14) before West (54) and Petchell (77) put on 115 for the fourth wicket.

However, the introduction of all-rounder Will Clarke before the heavens opened got Reed back into contention as Hemel finished their innings on 186-5.

With rain throughout tea and puddles starting to appear on the square, both captains and umpires called a halt to the game, with the game being drawn.

Reed skipper Simon Jackson said: "Obviously, we're disappointed at getting rained off against a team second from bottom.

"We bowled very tightly with the strongest-ever Reed team that we have fielded in all the years I have captained the side.

"Unless Hemel had some special bowling I would have thought we could easily have knocked off the total to set ourselves up for big games against the top two sides in our league."

Reed II were also forced to settle for a draw in their game at Hoddesdon, but they did have the consolation of completing the allotted 100 overs.

This mid-table clash resulted in an exciting game with Reed continuing to go for the win right to the end.

On a wet wicket, Reed did not bowl well initially with Hoddesdon reaching 140-1. However, Robertson and Garrott took five wickets between them to leave Hoddesdon on 222- 7 after 53 overs.

After 31 overs, at 94-6, Reed looked as if they had no chance of winning, but Robertson (30) and Garrott (65) had other ideas, putting on 78 in 11 overs to bring Reed back into the game.

Andrew Emms continued where Robertson left off and with 33 required off the last three overs Reed were still in with a chance.

However, although Baine went for 11 off his last over, Chandracant kept his cool, conceding only eight of his last two, leaving Reed 15 runs short and having to settle for a well-earned draw.