National Village Cricket Cup 2012 winners Reed saw the road to a repeat Lord’s Final open up to them when they clinched the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Area Title with a second win in two days against Langleybury.

Having beaten Langleybury in the Herts League on Saturday thanks to a knock of 82 from Will Heslam, the pair met again the following day, and again Reed were victorious as they claimed the regional title.

Reed skipper James Heslam won the toss and elected to field, but when Langleybury raced to 50 for no wicket after just 9 overs the decision looked questionable.

However, Reed opening bowler Jack Tidey had other ideas and proceeded to remove both openers in the space of the next two overs and brought Reed right back into the match.

A smart stumping by Shaun Tidey off Tom Greaves saw the visitors further reduced to 69-3 and Reed gained the upper hand when Mitchell Cooper trapped Andy Felton (5) LBW, leaving Langleybury struggling at 78-4.

The Reed stranglehold was firmly established and never really threatened despite a fine 47 from Richard Soulsby and undefeated contributions of 36 from Josh Godden and 24 from Will Oxley.

Jack Tidey (2- 33) and Tom Greaves (1 -22) restrained the visitor’s good initial progress and the final total of 177-5 looked well within Reed’s grasp.

Langleybury made an early breakthrough when the hero of the previous round’s win, Shaun Tidey, was caught behind for one.

This introduced Tom Greaves who looked authoritative at the crease before being adjudged LBW for just 13. Chris Jackson came and went for 10 and at 50-3 off nine overs the Reed innings appeared in the balance.

The catalyst for Saturday’s win over Langleybury, Will Heslam, was still in the middle and was standing tall in the face of the bowling attack.

He was joined by Stuart Smith and the pair set about constructing a solid recovery. Running well between the wickets the pair punished anything loose and took the Reed reply past the 100.

Heslam batted with a calm while Smith played a series of powerful shots that kept the Reed total well up with the required run rate. The pair had put on 99, and Reed seemed well set for a comfortable victory when the weary Heslam fell, caught behind for 66 off 96 balls.

Two overs and 10 runs later Smith (46) was dismissed with the score on 159-5

Reed 2nds’ captain Marcus Martin came to the crease and played some crisp and incisive shots and when he was joined by the powerful Kallum Ward, the match was concluded when Ward cleared the rope.

Reed will entertain the winners of the Kent Group in the first of the National Knock-Out Rounds at Reed on Sunday, June 22, 1pm start.