Reed lost the toss and were put into bat on a damp track after midweek rain. Baz Curtis and William Heslam opened for the visitors and made a solid start on the tricky wicket. The pair had put on 41 in 9 overs when Heslam drove at one and was caught at point. Curtis was joined by Fergus Martin. The youngest took time to get used to the conditions, but slowly found his range. Curtis had moved past 50 and looked well set for a really big score when he was out LBW off the bowling of Amos for 74. At the half was stage of the innings Reed were 97-2.
Runs became hard to come by and in the next 7 overs Reed could only muster 14 runs. Will Dobson joined Martin and they both upped the pace. Doboson was working the ball around nicely and with some good running and some lusty blows put on 42 in 7 overs. Martin was caught for 46 and Dobson bowled for 19. This only brought in Roddi Liebenberg and Mitchell Cooper. Liebenberg was soon in his stride hitting the unfortunate Gilbert for 16 in his only over. He raced to 50 and with Cooper hitting a good 14 including a big six over extra cover, Reed managed to declare on 232-5 from 50 overs.
In reply Hertford made a good start with Reed finding it hard to make the break through. Cooper was again unlucky not to get a wicket when a catch went down at slip. Rupert Martin struck first for the visitors having Davey caught behind. He then struck again bowling Hesla. Gilbert decided attack was the best form of defence, but he became one of Peter Tidey’s 3 victim when he was well caught by Rupert Martin in the deep. It was Keiran Wheeler and Tidey that broke the back of the Hertford batting, both taking 3 wickets. It was left to Martin to take the last two wickets and finish with 4-27. Reed took all 30 points for only the fourth time this season.
