Any lingering hopes of promotion to Herts League Division 1 came to an end for Reed on Saturday as they suffered defeat for the first time in several weeks away from home to a strong Berkhamsted outfit. Berkhamsted won the toss and elected to bat and this decision looked like a good one as they got off to a rapid start.

Despite William Clarke (1-35) getting the early breakthrough with a useful delivery cleaning up Seagrave for 2, the hosts raced to 67-1 from just 12 overs. Although Reed then turned to the consistent partnership of Peter Tidey and Richard Jerome and were soon rewarded with the wicket of the dangerous Hughes (37), this only brought former England schools batsman Bright to the crease.

He in partnership with Hammond took the score up to 153-2 with only 32 overs gone. From this point on Reed were always going to be looking at chasing 200 plus and despite a late flurry of wickets including a sharp run-out from Heslam, when Berko declared in the 50th over, they were set a tough target of 230 to win. Jerome finishing with 4-65 and Tidey 2-82. The Reed reply got off to a decent start with openers Heslam (20) and Fulk (22) looking in good touch.

However when they both fell to the impressive bowling of Janaway (4-62) and Clarke was also removed cheaply, Reed were struggling at 44-3. This was just the start the visitors didn’t want given the absence of top order batsman Curtis and C Jackson due to injury. Nevertheless, the Reed middle order fought on spiritedly. Smith (11) Kingshott (25) and Martin (12) all getting into double figures. However no batsman was able to play the big innings necessary to suggest to win the game and despite further contributions down the order notably from Johnson (15) and Michael Robertson (13*) Reed fell well short of victory at 149 all out. Next week Reed are at home to Ampthill Town who lie just above them now in 8th position.