Will Jones smashed Harpenden to their first Readers Cup T20 win as his 31-ball 45 saw them surpass Hertford’s total.

Harpenden lost their opening game to Sawbridgeworth but they bounced back on Sunday at the Common.

Having been asked to field first, Scott Galloway took a wicket with his second ball as Michael Bailey was caught by Jack Doyle. His opening partner, Steve Gale, refused to give up his wicket so easily.

In a 44-ball stay at the crease, Gale hit two sixes and a four as he put 41 runs on the board. His innings outlasted Jack Anderson (2) and Oliver Ray (13) but he finally succumbed to a delivery from Galloway, which he holed out to Jones.

After the key wicket of Gale, Hertford’s innings quickly disintegrated as Adam Carlson (12), Chris Cook (6) and Scott Ruskin (2) fell by the wayside. Only Will Bancroft, who hit a 15-ball 23, stood up to the attack as he helped set a total of 111 from 20 overs.

Harpenden’s reply got off to a bad start as Jake Pankhurst (9), James Latham (0), Gregg Cooper (6) and Mike Howard (3) fell in the third, fourth, fifth and seventh overs respectively.

Howard’s dismissal brought Jones to the crease and together with Galloway (28) he added 18 runs of a 41-run partnership. When Galloway was caught, Simon White (11*) joined Jones, who hit four sixes, and the pair saw out the match with seven balls to spare.