Reed became the first team this season to defeat league leaders West Herts, thanks in no small part to Sean Tidey’s 46* batting at no.9.

Tidey also took 2-28 with the ball to cap a fine all-round display as Reed recorded a 67-run victory to move up to fourth in the SHCL Championship table.

Things didn’t begin so well for Reed as there were two early wickets for Will Jones (15-3-47-4). Ed Wharton (35) and Chris Jackson (31) rebuilt the innings, only for their demises in consecutive overs.

This left Stuart Smith (42) to maintain impetus, but when he was joined by Tidey with 124-7 on the board the match seemed lost.

Together they scored steadily and, even with Smith’s dismissal, a quickfire 14* from seven balls by Toby Fynn enabled Tidey and Reed to reach a respectable 199-9 against a formidable attack containing two county bowlers.

West Herts’ openers started brightly, but Wharton (2-34) and Jack Tidey (1-26) breached their defences, which led to the regular fall of wickets to Sean Tidey and Toby Fynn (8-1-35-3).

Tom Greaves, who had marshalled his bowling attack skilfully, wrapped up the innings with two late wickets while there were also some excellent leg side catches by Rob Lankester and Matt Sampson while Chris Jackson, deputising behind the stumps, snaffled a brace of his own.

Reed 3rds’ veteran opener Peter Baker rolled back the years to score a match-winning century on a hot June day to reaffirm his title as Reed’s oldest centurion.

Earlier in the piece Matt Giblin took wickets in the opening over to put early pressure on Harpenden Dolphins. Steve Hughes backed up this start with a wicket of his own before the visitors made a gradual recovery working in singles.

Marcus J.E. Baker then broke the deadlock thanks to a catch from Rhodri Hughes before Steve Hughes claimed his second. Some big hitting towards the end frustrated Reed but could not stop what was a fantastic bowling performance by the home side as they restricted Dolphins to 192.

In the second innings Peter Baker (103) and Paul Garrott (17) saw off the new ball and made a superb opening stand of 70. Bill Mansfield (12) and Rhodri Hughes (24) kept the scorer busy before Marcus Baker (24*) and Maseeh Naeem (5*) saw Reed to a six-wicket win.