REED IV continued their good start to the season with another solid victory over Broxbourne at the Freman College ground. Peter Baker lost the toss and was asked to bat first by the visiting captain. The track was solid and flat and for once the weather

REED IV continued their good start to the season with another solid victory over Broxbourne at the Freman College ground.

Peter Baker lost the toss and was asked to bat first by the visiting captain. The track was solid and flat and for once the weather was forecasted for a lovely day. Baker again opened with George Garrott and the pair made a good start.

The score was 69 when Garrott was bowled for 35 which brought Roddy Liebenberg to the crease. Recovering from injury, he made runs easily, hitting the ball hard past the young side.

With the score on 206 from only 27 overs, Reed lost Baker for a well crafted 50, which brought in Sam Deville (8) who was unfortunate not to find the same success he found last week. Marcus J.E. Baker then came to the crease and was there when Liebenberg reached his century.

M.J.E. Baker and Alan Ward then continued to frustrate Broxbourne after Liebenberg's retirement as they tried to get as many runs as possible on the board by the 40th over. However, the declaration actually came an over early and after 39 overs Reed had finished on 296-7.

Reed had given themselves 51 overs to bowl out their opposition which seemed more than enough to begin with but in fact it took 49.1 overs for the final wicket to fall.

A run-out by Garrott got the ball rolling but stubborn innings from P Davies (39) and J Padgham (26) early on frustrated Reed. But a flurry of wickets from Dominic McComish (9-0-43-2) and Ian Roberts (13-4-20-3) got Reed back on track before the partnership of C Rosser and C Middleton again stopped Reed in their tracks.

The young wicket 'keeper and the veteran captain blocked Reed out and used up a good amount of overs. Middleton (30) eventually fell but the rest of the tail were equally certain to play out for a draw. Reed still required four wickets in the dying overs when Baker turned to Liebenberg who took the ball and made certain it was his day. Bowling off only a few paces with his leg strapped up, he found pace and swing to take Rosser (24) and soon enough the rest of the tail finishing with figures of 4-14 from four overs. It was a very good effort by Broxbourne who nearly held out for the draw but in the end it was another win and 30 points for Reed IV.