Hoddesdon 2nd XI continued their fine start 2015 Season

Hoddesdon 2nd XI continued their fine start to the season with a triumphant win over Luton Town and Indians.

On a warm sunny day, Hoddesdon started the game as the bowling side, but despite the pressurising bowling of Saun Brown and Oliver Maughan, Luton's openers Mahmood and Patel were difficult to crack, and they started to build a strong partnership. The breakthrough came when Patel edged Oliver Maughan to Harry Mason at point, who took the catch and removed the opener. Mason and Sturdy were then brought into the bowling attack, and despite a few tight spells the batsmen continued to build a strong score, before Sturdy took the wickets of Luton's number 2 and 3 batsmen. The next wave of bowling saw the exciting and effective spin partnership of Burroughs and Fryers. At 103-3 Luton looked set to kick and post a big score, but this new pleur bowling attack had different ideas. They turned, ripped and twisted Luton's bowlers, and swiftly removed batsmen after batsmen, wiping out the majority of Luton's attack, Fryers figures of 4-25 and Burroughs 2-25. The Luton innings was concluded when the batsmen foolishly attempted to run a single to the arm of Ross Angelini, the fielder launching the ball at the stumps, and running out the scrambling batsman, Luton finishing on 184 all out.

With the Hoddesdon camp still poignant following last weeks chase of a similar score, they were confident of chasing down their target. The opening combination of Fryers and Gandon got the ball rolling before Fryers was removed by a good delivery. Gandon was joined by Stafford, and the two batsmen put their years of experience together and gradually started to build Hoddesdons innings. The Luton attack claimed two swift wickets, and brought Burroughs and Brown to the crease. The pair followed where they left last week and raced to 20 odd each and put the game back in Hoddesdons hands, before Brown was removed. Adam Sturdy (34 n.o) walked to the crease, were him and Burroughs (43 n.o) batted extremely well, spraying the bowling attack to the boundary and demoralising the once upbeat bowlers. The two raced Hoddesdon to victory with Sturdy hitting the winning runs, to continue the teams pleur start to the season, and for the second time in two weeks chase down a target of 180+, putting them at the top of the table, and sending a warning signal to their competitors this season.

Harry Mason.