Reed skipper Matt Bowles once again lost the toss and once again his charges were asked to bat first on a cold and gloomy day at The Green.

Mike Robertson (10) and Stuart Smith (6) opened the batting in challenging conditions, with the ball swinging and the moody clouds aiding a talented opening attack. Reed scored quite freely early on but wickets fell at regular intervals as both openers and James Heslam (3) all fell to leave Reed 53-3.

Chris Jackson (79) and Phil Frenay (33) decided to counter attack to try and combat the tough bowling conditions, with Frenay looking in particularly good nick, regularly finding the fence as the score advanced towards three figures. However just when Frenay looked set for a big score he was trapped on the crease by the spinner and adjudged LBW - 98-4. Jackson ploughed on unperturbed as he was ably assisted by the energetic Rhodri Hughes. Hughes continued his fine form as he and Jackson ran the fielders ragged. The pair added 93 runs before both falling in consecutive overs as Reed found themselves in a strong position at 187-6 with overs still to bat.

Chris Chambers (15), Josh Heslam (6), Owen Hughes (7) and Matt Bowles (12 Not Out) all then added valuable late runs as Reed were bundled out just shy of their allotted 50 overs for an above par looking 228.

With the rain that had been threatening to come all day finally arriving 10 overs into the Bentley Heath reply, the task of the Reed bowlers was made all the more difficult as persistent drizzle resulting in a wet, slippery ball and negating the chance of swing that was so present in the first innings.

However Josh Heslam (8.3-1-43-4) and Karl Ward (10-1-26-1) never let the visiting batters settle as Reed soon took control with early wickets leaving them 23-3. Some resistance from Hubbard and Ahmed did briefly threaten to get Bentley Heath back into the game but miserly spells of spin from Chris Chambers (10-2-22-) and skipper Bowles (10-4-16-2) stymied the away team and left the Reed win as a ‘when’ and not and ‘if’.

Despite this, it did take some time for Reed to wrap up the victory as Owen Hughes (8-0-48-1) and the returning Josh Heslam eventually broke some late order blocking to leave Bentley Heath 159 all out and giving Reed another 30 points.