REED Cricket Club s battle against relegation is to go to the wire, after a nine-wicket home defeat against Letchworth on Saturday. The defeat leaves Reed 14 points clear of bottom-club Hoddesdon, who they must avoid losing to in their last league game to

REED Cricket Club's battle against relegation is to go to the wire, after a nine-wicket home defeat against Letchworth on Saturday.

The defeat leaves Reed 14 points clear of bottom-club Hoddesdon, who they must avoid losing to in their last league game to stay up.

Against table-topping Letchworth, Reed lost the toss and were asked to bat first.

And the home side soon found themselves in trouble at 5 for 2, after losing captain James Heslam and Joe Curk in consecutive balls.

Chris Jackson was then dismissed for 11, before the wickets of Michael Dobson and Will Curtis fell to leave Reed precariously poised on 26-5.

Wickets continued to fall, and only a battling 34 from number 11 batsman Andy Young gave the score-line a modicum of respectability.

Reed were dismissed for a total of 99 after 43.4 overs, with Ed Morse and Dom Marsh each taking four wickets.

In reply, Letchworth opener John Hilliard was bowled by Lee Johnson for 21 but this was as good as it got for Reed.

Indeed Letchworth reached their target without further loss after just 18 overs, South African batsman Seb Franke-Matthecka top-scoring with an unbeaten 54.

Victory saw Letchworth hold on to top spot, and Reed's single bowling point proved insufficient to stave off the threat of relegation.

At least Reed's fate is in their own hands, when they travel to Hoddesdon on Saturday.