Masseh hits the spot

REED thirds maintained their impressive start to the season with a comprehensive victory over Frogmore.

Skipper Peter Baker won the toss and with a strong batting line up elected to bat.

However, things did not start smoothly, as Aidan Swain (8) fell early on to the experience bowling of Salt, then Baker ran out the inform Tom Greaves, who was then himself run out by Ben Bowles, leaving Reed on 18 for 3.

Big-hitting Masseh Naeem joined Bowles at the crease and the pair steadied the ship before Bowles (17) fell to a sharp catch and bowl by Sanders.

Naeem (45) went on to hit some lusty blows in partnership with Alan Ward (29) as Reed began to take command, but both then fell in quick succession to Frogmore's slower bowlers.

Reed then lost Marcus Baker (13) and Kallum Ward (3), but this brought the unorthodox Graham Hazard (28 not out) and youngster Mitchell Cooper (20 not out) to the crease.

Hazard's no-nonsense style soon had the Frogmore bowlers in trouble and helped guide Reed to 179 for 8 from their allotted overs.

Reed then bowled tightly, with youngsters Mitchell Cooper and Kallum Ward again in impressive form. Cooper removed opener Baskett restricting Frogmore early on, but could not get a further break through.

Tom Greaves and veteran swinger Ian Roberts then took over, with Greaves taking two wickets in a tidy spell, while Roberts rolled back the years with four wickets for just 24 runs in his 10 overs.

Frogmore's batsmen then dug deep to try and save the game, but the introduction of wiley medium pacer Alan Ward dented any hope Frogmore had, with his two wickets in 1.3 overs swinging the game in Reeds' favour.

Marcus Baker caught the big hitting Hurst in the deep for 20, before Sander was clean bowled with Reed taking the 30 points to consolidate their joint top spot in the table.