The Saracens Hertfordshire League season began full pace on Saturday following the recent dismal weather which washed out 2 fixtures. However, it was Reed who were left the ground disappointed as they were narrowly beaten by Flitwick by three wickets. Now placed 12th in Division 2, following their promotion and division victory last year and the year before, the North Hertfordshire team will face an increasingly tough level of opposition in games to come this season, but are still confident of performing healthily.

Despite winning the toss and electing to bat, Reed’s batting proved fragile as opener James Heslam (12) and Tom Fulk (2) were dismissed early on. The middle order failed to add any weight to the scoreline, until Chris Jackson (106*) came to the helm and carved out a chance-less and gritty maiden Division 2 century for 2004 to bring about some respectibility. Combined with his brother and captain, Simon Jackson (29*), they managed to drag the score to 177 for 6 off the allotted 53 overs thanks to some electric running between the wickets and cheeky singles. The pick of the Flitwick bowlers was certainly their opener D. Dunlop (16-7-36-3), who nagging fast bowling proved difficult to score off.

With warm weather drying the pitch throughout the afternoon, Flitwick set about chasing. William Clarke (9-3-21-1) struck early removing their opener for a duck, but it was his opening bowling partner Michael Berks (15.5-3-53-3) who was Reed’s bowling star, as he tirelessly battled to counterbalance the absence of veteran Peter Tidey from the attack due to holiday. Reed were unlucky not to be awarded a close run out decision, which would have left the visitors reeling on 13-3, but instead M.Barnes battled on to hit 30 before Richard Johnson (10-0-51-1) sent his middle stump towards the boundary. This brought Flitwick’s highest scorer to the crease, A.Summerfield (57*), whose patient innings formed the core of the resistance. Unperturbed by a sharp run-out by Marcus Martin and another by Chris Jackson, he linked up well with B.Ellis (37) who struck 3 sixes in a handful of deliveries to break the back of Reed‚s attack. Despite a couple of late wickets which gave the home team a glimmer of hope, Flitwick reached the target with 1.1 overs to spare.