Despite losing the top of the table clash with Hertford, Reed maintained their position 2nd in Herts League Division One heading into the final round of matches this Saturday.
Hertford skipper Gale won the toss and elected to bat for the first time this season knowing 5 bonus points were all they would need to confirm their promotion. He then proceeded to impressively hit the first 4 balls of the match to the boundary to set the tone for the Hertford innings. Despite this Reed fought back hard and picked up their 1st wicket at 34-1 in the 5th over with Jack Tidey (1-42) rushing McGregor into a mistimed pull shot. Despite this breakthrough, Hertford continued to make good progress led by Gale who played a captains innings of 77 in quick time. He was supported by solid middle order contributions from the Ray brothers and Joyce. At 178-3 in the 40th over Hertford looked on course but when Gale became one of the impressive Tom Greaves (5-78) five wickets the innings faltered. With Curk (3-35) bowling well in partnership with Greaves, Reed were able to avoid Hertford racking up a very big total restricting them to 232-9 in 53 overs. So there was hope for Reed in the chase on what was a good batting wicket and short boundary one side.
Reed got off to a decent start with the Heslam brothers taking the score onto 67-0 in 15 overs with Will Heslam (41) playing very impressively scoring at an excellent rate. However James Heslam (27) was then controversially dismissed caught behind and Greaves fell immediately after turning the game in the space of four balls. Will Heslam then fell leaving Reed at 75-3 off 19 overs. Chris Jackson (32) and Joe Curk set about rebuilding the innings but just when Curk was looking dangerous he was caught at point for 28 and Reed were 119-4 in 30 overs. Stuart Smith then scored a quick fire 23 but at 154-5 in 37 overs, Reed needed 8 an over to win. Although maintaining hope of the win Reed did however have in the back of their minds a target of 185 to secure the necessary batting points to stay second in the league and thanks to Jackson and some useful lower order batting from Mitchell Cooper Sean Tidey and Ed Garrott they reached that before falling short on 190 all out from 45.5 overs.
Reed need to win their final game of the season away to Langleybury to secure promotion, if they fail to do so it is likely they will be tipped to the post by Totteridge Milhillians who host bottom of the table St Albans or possibly by 4th placed Old Finchleians.
