Uphill Struggle for Hoddy

Hoddesdon 3s suffered a disappointing 6-wicket defeat away to Mill Hill Village on Saturday, following a middle-order capitulation.

Hoddesdon skipper Aidan McElligott lost the toss and the visitors were put into bat. Following persistent heavy rain the previous day, the wicket was certainly bowler friendly and the toss played an instrumental role in the eventual outcome.

Steve Duke was the first Hoddy casualty; he was caught in the slips off the bowling of George Leggett, after his attempted cover drive caught the edge.

Hayden Brown joined the watchful Peter Draisey at the crease and the pair were having to work extremely hard to preserve their wickets. Brown played some excellent shots without receiving full value for them. He was dismissed for 7, after his attempted leg-side flick caught his top edge off the bowling of promising youngster Thomas Smith.

Hoddy were scoring at less than 2 runs per over, so Neil Connor took the attack to the opposition and gave the innings fresh impetus. He hit three boundaries in one over, before he was unfortunately dismissed for 17. A slower delivery from Dan Penny stuck in the pitch, and Connor's forward defensive looped up and was caught by Penny, thanks to a sprawling dive.

Ross Maughan's dismissal for just 4 triggered Hoddesdon's batting collapse; they lost 6 wickets for just one run, as Mill Hill's Asif secured a five-wicket haul. Aidan McElligott was adjudged out LBW first ball, before Henry Taylor was caught without scoring.

When opener Peter Draisey was run out for a valiant 27, Hoddesdon were reeling. Riley Hagger and Joe Duke were both clean bowled for 0, bringing Tim McElligott to the crease. McElligott and Josh Gorton produced the joint highest partnership of the entire innings, with McElligott playing a delightful cameo.

He scored 18, including four boundaries all scored down the ground, before he was caught in the slips, leaving Gorton just 48 shy of his 50 on 2 not out! Hoddesdon were bowled out for just 93 and faced an extremely tough task to secure victory.

The visitors were given some hope, as the first Mill Hill wicket fell with the score on 0. Downes was run out after sharp work from both Maughan and Draisey, but the call was suicidal to say the very least. It almost got better for the visitors, as Thompson edged a swinging delivery from Henry Taylor, but the catch was put down in the slip cordon.

Thompson and Andrew Teague solidified Mill Hill's innings, before Joe Duke trapped Teague LBW for 17. The hosts were easing towards their victory target, batting in a relatively carefree manner, but Aidan McElligott bowled well and claimed the wickets of Thompson and Godfrey to give the scorecard some respectability.

Paul Smith came in at Number 5 and produced a classy knock of 25 not out, to secure a 6-wicket win for Mill Hill. It was a frustrating afternoon for the 3s, as they were ruthlessly punished for an indifferent batting display. However, the toss was decisive in the outcome. Next week, we aim to bounce back when we host Stevenage at Roydon.

Words; Josh Gorton.