Reed (135-6) beat Northwood Town (134 all out) by four wickets JACK Tidey celebrated his first XI debut with two wickets as Reed secured a four wicket win over Northwood Town. Reed s success was built on a good performance in the field after Northwood won

Reed (135-6) beat Northwood Town (134 all out) by four wickets

JACK Tidey celebrated his first XI debut with two wickets as Reed secured a four wicket win over Northwood Town.

Reed's success was built on a good performance in the field after Northwood won the toss and elected to bat.

Reed took early wickets before Phil Costard and Brendan Heaney staged a recovery to take Northwood to 70-2.

Northwood's revival was short-lived though as they suffered a batting collapse of the highest order.

A total of 70-2 became 80-7 in the flash of an eye as Reed ripped through their opponents' middle-order.

The Northwood lower order showed some resistance to add some respectability to the score as Town finished on 134 all out.

Reed's innings wasn't all plain sailing as the stumbled to 60-4.

The home side kept their composure though and eased past the finishing post for the loss of six wickets.

PHILLIP Frenay top scored with 35 as REED II lost by five runs to Flitwick II.

Reed had managed to restrict Flitwick to 130 all out in the first innings but fell short with the bat with only four players making double figures.

Paul Thurstance was Reed's nemesis, taking the wickets of Mitchell Cooper (21), Ian Fulk (17), Richard Barlow (0) and Peter Tidey (4).

WILLIAM Heslam top scored for REED III as they lost by seven wickets to Hatfield Crusaders. Heslam scored 31 as Reed were bowled out for 106 with Darren Cooper taking six wickets for the Crusaders.

The Crusaders got home for the loss of three wickets with Allsop taking two and Kallum Ward the other.

REED IV were in dire need of a win to keep their promotion chase alive against bottom of the table North Mymms V.

Having won the toss Reed captain Peter Baker decided to bat first at the Freman College ground.

The damp track certainly made a profound impact on the game and by the 16th over P Baker was batting with Ward and Reed were in trouble on 28-4.

The pair then showed their experience and skill as they rebuilt the Reed innings.

Baker finished on 119no and Ward, who had supported Baker, shared in the glory as he too made 50 before becoming Gregory's final wicket (15-2-46-5).

Reed declared after 45 overs on 209-5, with Baker and Ward setting yet another fourth XI record partnership for the fifth wicket of 174.

It did not take long for Reed's bowling talent to start taking wickets and, with the exception of Topham (18) and Lawless (17no) no-one else of the young North Mymms side got past five.

All bowled well as the wickets were shared amongst Alex West (6-1-13-2), Oliver Smith (6-1-10-1), Will Kirby (5-2-15-2) and Nick Green (5-2-17-1).

North Mymms were finally bowled out in the 26th over for 60 runs, Ian Roberts cleaned up the tail finishing with the average-helping figures of four wickets for no runs from just nine deliveries.

With only two games remaining Reed need two more wins to stay in contention for promotion.