REED slipped to a disappointing 38-run defeat to Shenley Village on Saturday despite looking like winning the match on a number of occasions.

REED slipped to a disappointing 38-run defeat to Shenley Village on Saturday despite looking like winning the match on a number of occasions.

Shenley got off to a lacklustre start with Vadgana and the slow-scoring Middlesex youngster Thurston, who put on 36 for the first wicket in 12 overs before Reed openers Lee Johnson and Graham Wilson started hitting their straps.

The bowlers split the first seven wickets with ‘keeper Simon Jackson taking five catches.

With Johnson (5-72 off 16 overs) used his pace to rip through the batsman with no mercy and formed a great partnership with the wily Wilson (3-35 off 17 overs).

With Shenley now slumped to 73-7 off 24 overs, it bought the classy pairing of Stanley and Hameed to the wicket. Both batsmen looked far better than those who had failed before them as they slowly built a solid total. They defended well and put away the bad ball superbly before Reed spinners Tom Greaves and Will Dobson got their wickets. Johnson took the final wicket to bowl Shenley out for 198.

In reply, Reed were unlucky to lose Greaves in the first over after he played onto his stumps.

Skipper James Heslam (26) and Liam McKechnie added the stability to the Reed innings which saw them reach 51 off 11 overs before losing McKechnie (23).

Phil Frenay and Will Dobson nearly saw Reed in to a match-winning position before Frenay (19) was unlucky to be adjudged out after a catch behind.

Dobson (27) kept going before suffering a back injury, which restricted his movement and his shot selection. Reed batsmen continued to get in and then get out without getting themselves above the scoring rate.

Shenley bowled Reed out for 160 with nearly five overs left. The most successful of the Shenley players was the bowler who started everything off at the beginning of the innings taking 5-45. Captain Heslam said after the match: “It was a big disappointment to lose after getting them 73-7 and for five of our top seven scoring between 19 and 27 and not going on to make a match-winning innings.

“I hope we can bounce back against Potters Bar IIs on Saturday with an improved all-round display.”