St Albans edge home in final over
A POOR batting display saw Reed seconds slip to a three-wicket defeat at home to St Albans thirds. Reed lost opener Ben Bowles for a duck in the third over, but Simon Jackson and Mark King took the score on to 38 before King was caught for 13. Three more
A POOR batting display saw Reed seconds slip to a three-wicket defeat at home to St Albans thirds.
Reed lost opener Ben Bowles for a duck in the third over, but Simon Jackson and Mark King took the score on to 38 before King was caught for 13.
Three more wickets fell for 42 runs, leaving Reed on 80-5 and staring down the barrel of a low score.
Jackson was still at the crease, and shared a productive partnership with Richard Robertson, who made 22 as the pair took Reed past the 100 mark. However, once Robertson was caught attempting an ambitious drive over the top, the tail collapsed quickly, with none of the last four batsmen making double figures.
Jackson was left unbeaten on 68 as Reed limped to 174 all out.
Despite an early wicket from Graham Wilson, the St Albans batsmen enjoyed a brisk start, with Malouf and Goodfellow putting on 67 for the second wicket.
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Wilson was showing good form with the ball, and he took three more wickets, including that of Malouf for a sparkling 48.
With eight overs left St Albans required 20 runs, and at this stage the odds looked stacked against Reed.
However, tight bowling from Wilson, supported by skipper Jason Archer, ensured that the match went to the wire, with two runs required from the final over.
Unfortunately for Reed, an inside edge from Ellins which narrowly missed the stumps allowed St Albans to score the runs they needed.
Captain Archer said: "It's a shame our batting, Simon Jackson aside, let us down, because I was delighted with our bowling and fielding.
"I can't ask for any more from the lads in terms of effort.
