Reed s North Herts League team completed a fine weekend for the club as they defeated Codicote by two wickets. Losing the toss and having to field in the searing heat immediately put Reed on to the back foot, and playing on the truest of batting tracks, w

Reed's North Herts League team completed a fine weekend for the club as they defeated Codicote by two wickets.

Losing the toss and having to field in the searing heat immediately put Reed on to the back foot, and playing on the truest of batting tracks, wickets were hard to come by.

All the Codicote batsmen got a start.

Avent (28), Carl Richards (46) and Poulton (45) helped to set the scene for 15-year-old Luke Richards to smash a superb undefeated. 59.

The only real bright spots for the fielding side were the excellent bowling spells of Edward Garrott (8-42-1) and Fergus Martin (6-29-0) as the Codicote innings closed on 218-5 off 40 overs.

Reed's response got off to the worst possible start, Matt Bowles bagging a weekend "pair".

But youngsters Martin (13) and Garrott (35) continued where they left off with the ball to add 46 for the second wicket before Martin was caught and bowled.

Richard Barlow added a classy 24 with Mike Jackson (36), before falling.

Hazzard (10) and Michael Robertson (14) kept up the momentum, so by the time Archer joined Karl Ward at the crease, Reed were 170-8, needing 49 off the remaining seven overs.

The pair were outstandingly calm, picking off singles at will, and dispatching the four-ball to such an extent that by the time the 40th over started Reed required just one for victory.

Archer calmly played a solid defensive shot to the first ball before creaming the next through square leg to see Reed to victory.

Ward was unbeaten on 37 and Jason Archer on 19. The pair had put on 52 in just 38 balls.