This top of the Hertfordshire Championship table encounter promised a feast of Cricket with unbeaten Hertford hosting second placed Reed who had won their last 6 league matches in a row. However, what could have been an “upset” result was mired in controversy and for the 2nd time in 2 seasons Reed came away from Hertford as losers and feeling hard done by as key decisions seemingly again turned the match away from the “junior” Club playing away against a senior County Club on their own ground.
Reed won the toss and elected to field first. Hertford skipper Gale soon went caught and bowled by Jack Tidey but then Bailey 36 and Ray 29 took Hertford to 67 before Bailey was well caught by Reed skipper James Heslam off Tom Greaves for 36. Cliff Caverner joined Ray and the Hertford total progressed to 90 before Tom Greaves induced 2 wickets in 2 balls reducing the home side to 90-4. At 128 Caverner was dismissed also caught off Greaves for 21 and when Gethin-Golder went for a duck, giving Greaves his 4th wicket, with the total 137-6 in the 33rd over Hertford were in serious trouble. It was at this point that Hertford No 6 Ruskin, an acknowledged fine batsman but on 0 at the time went back to a ball from Jack Tidey and was hit shin high, seemingly in front of all 3 stumps. The perception was a plumb LBW but it was not to be granted in Reeds favour, a decision that gave rise to some Reed incredulity, later to be deemed formal “dissent”. The key dismissal not having been awarded, Ruskin joined by No 8 Bancroft began to score freely against the dispirited Reed. The pair put on 142 in the next 24 overs as Ruskin moved to a fine century registering 102 before being well caught by James Heslam off Mitchell Coopers bowling. Bancroft scored a fine 63* as Hertford posted what had previously seemed an unlikely high total of 287 for 8 off almost 60 Overs.
Reeds chances of chasing the mammoth total against the unbeaten league leaders seemed unlikely, but they decided to accept the challenge and promoted powerful in-form batsman Sean Tidey up the order to open. This previously successful ploy failed on this occasion as Tidey fell caught for just 1 in only the 2nd over. Worse was to follow as Reeds talisman batsman James Heslam was seemingly harshly adjudged LBW (for the 2nd successive year at Hertford!) ironically by the same official that had previously reprieved the subsequent Hertford centurion! This double blow, leaving Reed 3 for 2, led Reed to review their approach to the match and they decided to play out the innings and seek to put a dent in Hertford’s 100% win record. Will Heslam and Tom Greaves batted through the next 22 overs adding 63 before Greaves was caught at gully for 40. Chris Jackson joined young Heslam at the crease and the pair continued the policy of blocking out or leaving the good balls and punishing anything loose. However, 10 overs into the partnership Jackson misjudged a shot and chipped a catch to midwicket. Stuart Smith strode to the crease with 35 overs gone and the Reed score at an unusually very sedate 88-4 By now the normal fielders banter had degenerated into unpleasant personal abuse of the batsmen, leading the match officials to twice intervene and speak to the home team Captain. However this had little effect, and the poisonous atmosphere in the middle continued for the rest of the match.
Smith soon departed for just 10 but then Sam Fairbrother joined the limpet-like Will Heslam and the pair added 57 in13 overs taking Reed to 156-6 and within 8 overs of securing a draw.
Having scored a solid 54 in 48 overs Will Heslam was then adjudged to have raised a heel to be stumped. Disaster followed disaster as 2 balls later the assured looking Sam Fairbrother fell caught behind for a fine 33. Reed were now hanging in there for the draw they had targeted, the last 3 batsmen having to survive the last 7 overs. Whilst Mitchell Cooper looked solid and impenetrable Ward fell caught in the deep for just 1. Jack Tidey now came to the crease determined to get Reed over the line. However, after a further 3 overs of solid resistance Tidey fell LBW, disappointed as he believed he had achieved contact between bat and ball. Key close decisions were certainly not favouring Reed today.
Number 11 Toby Fynn lasted just 3 balls and Reed thereby lost the match with 3.1 overs left to be bowled. Hertford’s Salter earned his side the win with a fine spell of 6-24 from 13.5 overs
A frustrating and unpleasant match whose outcome reinforced Hertford’s lead of the League but had precious little effect on the positions of the chasing pack with Reed remaining in 2nd place still 52 points clear of the 3rd placed side West Herts CC.
