ED BLISSETT, Steve Lovegrove, and Matt Bowles helped Reed beat Baldock by 196 runs on Sunday. 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

ED BLISSETT, Steve Lovegrove, and Matt Bowles helped Reed beat Baldock by 196 runs on Sunday.

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, 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 new pair of Phil Frenay and Matt Bowles came to the middle.

Frenay (31) plundered the Baldock attack, 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) took Reed to an impressive 278 for 4 from their 40 overs.

In reply, 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.

"It was a really impressive display."

n IT was a case of close but no cigar for Reed as the Saracens League Division One side had to settle for a draw with Totteridge/Millhillians at the weekend.

Electing to bat first, Reed moved off well, until skipper James Heslam fell to an away-swinging delivery from Siddiqui for 14.

Michael Curtis and Joe Curk set about building a 61-run partnership before Curtis fell for 46, while Curk continued the run building with Chris Jackson (31) and Will Dobson (18) before being bowled himself by the left-arm spin of Martins-Craig for 88.

Reed then fell away to end on 236 for 8 off 53 overs.

In reply the visitors set off at a reasonable pace before Andy Young (2 for 67) claimed both openers, leaving them at 75 for 2.

Lee Hodgson and visiting skipper Simon O'Brien then built a steady partnership.

However, Curk and Bernie Morrs had other ideas and turned the match upside down. Curk dismissed O'Brien for 36, as well as Hodgson for a brilliant 103, as the visitors slumped from 194 for 2 to 224 for 9.

Curk took 4 for 21 and Morrs 2 for 32 in the process, while Lee Johnson had an lbw decision turned with three balls remaining.

However, Siddiqui played out the remaining balls to leave the match drawn, with Reed picking up 19 points to remain eighth with six games to go.