A DISAPPOINTING defeat for Reed maintained their ninth place position in Saracens Herts Division One – one spot above the drop zone. Visiting St Albans put Reed into bat, and the hosts were dealt an immediate blow when they lost captain James Heslam earl

A DISAPPOINTING defeat for Reed maintained their ninth place position in Saracens Herts Division One - one spot above the drop zone.

Visiting St Albans put Reed into bat, and the hosts were dealt an immediate blow when they lost captain James Heslam early on.

Michael Curtis and Joe Curk built an impressive 50-run partnership, before Curtis fell for a well-worked 25 for the first of three wickets by seamer O'Toole.

Dobson and Frenay went cheaply, and when Curk was dismissed for 42, Reed were faltering on 86 for 5 approaching the 30th over.

Murty Hussein then produced an expert spell of off-spin, and as a result the hosts crumbled to 127 all out off 48 overs.

In response, the visitors set off quickly, and despite the early wicket of Caley, courtesy of Andy Young, Hart and Arafat set about building the platform for victory.

Reed shuffled their bowling pack, and despite Dobson bowling Hart for 33, and Pete Tidey taking the wicket of Arafat, St Albans cruised to their desired target and registered a comfortable six-wicket victory.

Reed did pick up four bonus points, and as a result remain in ninth place, with a 25-point cushion over relegation favourites Hoddesdon.