After the heroics of last week’s victory over Radlett, a 42 run defeat to Hertford proved to be rather an anti-climax. However Reed Firsts started brightly with early wickets for Matt Giblin and Ed Wharton, the latter a magnificent catch by Sunil Patil form a steepler which swerved viciously over his head. Alex Jones (51) and Richard Leather (32) then dug in and it was not until the introduction of canny spinner, Kapil Dave, that the partnership was broken. Dave finished with 3-32 from his ten overs. At 136 for 6 Reed scented a swift end to the innings, but Max Lawrance (40) and Alan Coulson (31) built a stubborn stand of 56, which proved to be match winning. Toby Fynn and Matt Giblin (3-32) then wrapped up the innings for 203, a competitive total on a slow pitch.
Reed started in all too familiar fashion, languishing at 88 for 6 after half the allotted overs, only Tom Greaves (37) putting up sustained resistance. However, a fighting partnership of 52 between Jack Caine (35) and Sean Tidey (30) threatened to take the game away from Hertford. Caine played a nicely controlled innings and it was good to see Tidey back to his swashbuckling best. When he was eventually caught on the boundary attempting another maximum, the innings rather subsided for 161 to young spinner, Jonny Underdown, who took 5 for 30.
Welwyn await Reed in their final fixture next week. Can they pull off another Radlett to end the season in style?
Match Report submitted by Peter Wholley.
