ED BLISSETT, Steve Lovegrove and Matt Bowles helped Reed overcome rivals Baldock on Sunday in a mammoth 196-run victory. Captain Marcus Martin won the toss and elected to bat, a decision that turned out to be a good one as Reed s batsmen made the Baldock

ED BLISSETT, Steve Lovegrove and Matt Bowles helped Reed overcome rivals Baldock on Sunday in a mammoth 196-run victory.

Captain Marcus Martin won the toss and elected to bat, a decision that turned out to be a good one as Reed's batsmen made the Baldock bowling attack toil in the baking sun.

Ed Blissett and William Dobson opened up, but the latter was quickly dismissed when he top-edged Mackey's full toss to earn himself a duck.

However, Steve Lovegrove joined the evergreen Blissett, and the pair set about the Baldock attack and accelerated the innings. Lovegrove was aggressive in his punishment of any bad ball, while Blissett played with his usual air of calmness as the score advanced to 88 for 1 at the 20 over mark.

Both went on to make half centuries as Lovegrove (69) and then Blissett (62) took Reed well into triple figures. When they were eventually sent packing the hosts found themselves at 152 for 3 as the sprightly new pair of Phil Frenay and Matt Bowles came to the middle.

Frenay (31) was first to find his feet, and plundered the Baldock attack to the boundary, with Bowles adding a mix of solid running and plenty of well placed boundary shots as they increased Reed's score to 208.

When Frenay was caught, Bowles (58 not out) continued his dissecting of the Baldock bowlers, and ably supported by some lusty late blows from skipper Marcus Martin (26 not out) he took Reed to an impressive 278 for 4 from their 40 overs.

In response Baldock started badly as Richard Johnson ripped through the hosts' top order and removed the first four batsmen with ease.

A change of bowlers then saw Jason Pallett (5-023-2) and Michael Robertson (5.4-0-19-4) enter the action, with the latter quickly making his mark with his lively spin bowling.

Pallett's off spin also proved a cunning weapon, as he snared two late wickets which left Baldock all out for 82 after 25.4 overs.

Reed captain Marcus Martin said: "I was very pleased with the team's effort. We batted well in the heat and then bowled and fielded brilliantly too. It was a really impressive display by all involved."

n STARTING the match as league leaders, Great Chishill had slipped to third place at by the end as Girton inflicted a six-wicket defeat.

Despite Kirk Chilton's brave 44, Great Chishill lost wickets steadily and could muster only 131 all out, with Darren and Andrew taking six wickets between them.

Brian Manning (2-28) and Adam Wright (1-22) bowled well but the visitors were always in command and Lawrence Huxley's undefeated 68 swept them to a seventh consecutive win and 132 for 4.

A MASTERFUL innings by Nick Adams sealed a second win of the season for Great Chishill seconds and gave them a slim chance of avoiding the drop in Division 4C.

Adams' first stroke was a square drive for four and this set the tone for a very attacking 91 which helped the visitors to 222 for 6.

Saffron Walden fifths were then hit by the pace bowling of Ian Zygmunt (3-51) and the spin of Chris Sorrell (2-52).

And with Adams taking two catches and skipper Terry Manning also impressing the home side could only reach 165 for 7 at the close.