After a week off from league action due to the weather, Reed IV’s welcomed Hertford V’s to Freman College. Despite the looming dark clouds and occasional drizzle the match began with Reed being asked to bat first in the first ‘timed’ fixture of the season.
Peter Baker and Alan Ward opened up for Reed and scored runs quickly from the offset before Ward was caught for 16. When John Kershaw was lost cheaply Reed were 40-2 from the first 6 overs bringing Mas Naeem to the crease and he played several fantastic shots as he and Baker went about rebuilding the innings and put on 102 for the third wicket with both batsmen bringing up there half centuries. When Naeem was lost for a superb 55, this brought the inform Zac Conley to the crease who typically from the offset began scoring freely punishing the bowlers and quickly brought up his fifty and was continually well supported by Baker . Zac Conley (114*) was then remarkably first to bring up his century and was soon followed by Peter Baker (102*) as the pair put-on 177 for the fourth wicket whilst Reed reached a mammoth 318-3 by the 37th over before tea was taken early due to a downpour.
During the interval, the skipper Bowman declared and after a relatively long delay Reed returned to the field with an amended 44 overs to take 10 wickets.
Considering the conditions Hertford’s resistance was very good and Reed were frustrated for long periods by Gibift (46) and more so Reddy (71). Wickets were shared among the bowlers including the returning Owen Hughes as well as Ed Kershaw and Zac Conley. However two excellent spells from Jack Childs (7-4-16-2) and finally Naeem (1.3-0-7-3) secured another fine win for the fourth eleven.