Spinner Tom Greaves took four wickets and top-scored with the bat to inspire Reed to a fourth win of the season in the Herts Championship.

With skipper James Heslam choosing to field first, Greaves (4-39) and bowling counterpart Toby Fynn (5-58) tore through the visitors. Edwayd Lye and Peter Dunning could only manage 27 in top-scoring efforts for Chorleywood.

Reed then charged to victory in double quick time. Greaves especially excelled with the bat, hitting 44 off 41 balls including seven fours. Stuart Smith (37) saw the hosts home just shy of 30 overs.

Fynn was delighted to take the new ball and immediately caused the Chorleywood top order problems with his pace and direction.

It wasn’t long before he rushed opener James Rose into a mistimed pull shot and then had Scott Aspinall well caught behind by Sean Tidey.

The introduction of Greaves to the attack tightened Reed’s grip on the game as he bowled with flight and guile, and alongside Fynn and Alex Mutucumarana they reduced the home side to 115-6 at lunch. Not long after the break, the away side had been removed for 150.

Reed changed the batting order slightly to accommodate the declining weather conditions and despite an early loss, Greaves scored freely at number three, putting on 60 with Heslam (21) for the second wicket.

Although both went soon after, Mutucumarana played calmly for a classy 26 putting Reed in control at 116-4.

However, there were infrequent rain interruptions which made it difficult for the Reed batsmen, including not knowing how many risks to take to score the runs quickly.

When Smith and Cooper were taken off for a lengthy rain break Reed were agonisingly close to the line at 135-5.

Thankfully the rain subsided and Reed were able to secure the victory with Smith playing some astonishing strokes to finish the game inside two overs of the restart, with the good support of Cooper (7*).

n Reed wil host Hertford in the quarter-finals of the Readers County 20/20 Cup on Sunday, July 5.

In the other last eight clashes, North Mymms take on Bishop’s Stortford, Hoddesdon face Sawbridgeworth and Stevenage battle Letchworth.