Pessimists amongst the Reed ranks looked gloomily at the weather forecast on Saturday morning anticipating a cancellation message and the thought of no play and 10 points for a “No Result”. As it happened, the match started on-time, was not interrupted by rain and was played-out under warm sunshine to its conclusion with Hertford winning by 6 wickets. It poses the question: Is it better NOT to play and get 10 points? Or to play and gain only the 8 bonus points Reed earned for losing the match? Either way, Hertford’s players were happy with 30 points in the bag. Reed did set the reasonably challenging total of 164 with the majority of the runs coming from Michael Robertson who scored 59 and Richie Barlow, 51, in a 4th wicket partnership of 93. The pitch was damp-ish and the length of the grass on the outfield made quick scoring hard work. The bowling too was restrictive and both opening pace bowlers, Ferdenzi, (1 for 16 from 7 overs), and Falkingham, (4 for 25 from 16 overs), we re very competitive.
In response, it required Reed to bowl and field well, which generally they did, but with short, square boundaries, the occasional bad deliveries were put away for fours or sixes which consequently made things difficult for the fielders as Hertford neared their target. Once again, Owen Hughes bowled a super length and off-stump line to return figures of 25 runs from 10 overs and being unlucky not to take a wicket. In an unusual move, left-arm slow bowler, Bernie Morss, opened the bowling from the opposite end. Hertford’s opening batsmen made cautious progress until both departed when the score had reached 59. First, wicket-keeper Scott Caine safely took an edge off Morss’s bowling then the ever youthful skipper, Maseeh Naeem, snapped-up a sharp, fast-moving catch in the crucial backward square leg position off Michael Robertson’s bowling who had by then replaced Hughes. Freddie Stuart took a steepler on the boundary edge also off Morss’s bowling and Rob Willoughby, in a short spell, induced a catch behind to the alert Caine. After that, with time on their hands, Hertford’s young middle order, Ben Davies, (40 not out), and Bob Davies, (49 not out), batted sensibly to victory.
Reed (8 points) lost to Hertford (30 points) by 6 wickets.
