Reed entertained last year’s First Division champions Hertford in their match at The Green on Saturday. Reed bowling first were a little wayward in their first four overs conceding 26 runs. Then Jack Tidey found his radar bowling the Hertford skipper Gale for 22 leaving them on 27 for 1, Bailey joined the other opener Ray and they kept the scoreboard ticking over until Ray fell to Toby Fynn (10-3-38-3) at 59. Hertford’s batsmen including an Australian state overseas player were all getting good starts but not building on them. Cook though was the exception his 65 was the standout for Hertford and although extras was the next top scorer with 34, Hertford made 213 off of 47.3 overs. Fynn and Kallum Ward (3-0-9-2) the pick of Reed’s bowlers.
James and Will Heslam gave Reed a solid start in reply. Will fell to an lbw decision leaving Reed on 32 for 1, skipper James fell soon after and when Sam Fairbrother fell to a caught and bowled Reed were wobbling at 40 for 3. Tom Greaves and Kallum Ward looked to steady matters but once Greaves fell to Cook, now getting in on the bowling act and Marcus Martin not troubling the scorer, left the Home Team 61 for 5 in the 19th over. Sean Tidey and Kallum Ward knew they needed to stay together to bring Reed back into the match and they did, but when Ward fell for a gutsy 22 and Tidey for 38 Reed were now 121 for 7 with only Mitchell Cooper holding out for 27, Reed were all out 150 in the 38th over.