On a hot day, we lost the toss and were asked to field, but started well with tight bowling from Evie Matthews and Catherine Clune. Evie removed one opening bat, and then Danielleh Hugo removed the other, leaving Berkhamsted 25-2 in the ninth over.

Berkhamsted then knuckled down and accumulated runs as all bowlers bowled tightly with a few extras. Ultimately restricting them to 130 for 4 from their 35 overs. A tight spell of 5 overs 1-11 from Hilary Howson at the end of the innings leaving them short of a par score on a flat wicket.

In reply, Stortford openers tucked into a mixed bag of bowling after the initial set back of losing Danielleh for nought in the first over. Suzy Reader starred with a chance-less 59 not out, supported by a solid 18 from Captain Sarah Pearson. Flo Bellerby hit the winning runs with 7 overs to spare. A crowded itinerary over the next two months means the ladies will be tested to the limit so this was an important win to get their campaign off to a positive start.