On a sun-dappled spring afternoon in Hertfordshire, Hoddesdon Cricket Club served up a sizzling season curtain-raiser as they edged past a plucky Enfield side by four wickets, chasing down 190 in just 35.2 overs.

It was a gripping contest full of twists, turns, and standout performances — none more so than a dazzling all-round display from Johnny Munday, who spun a web with the ball before anchoring the chase with bat in hand.

In what was billed as a friendly, this was anything but casual. With pride on the line and bragging rights up for grabs, both sides fielded strong XIs. Enfield, having won the toss, opted to bat first — a decision that seemed inspired early on, but would unravel thanks to Hoddesdon's disciplined bowling unit and some curious shot selection from the visitors.

EARLY ENFIELD PROMISE FIZZLES OUT
The North Londoners got off to a decent start courtesy of Tasin Iqbal (39 off 38) and Joe Naughton (20), who navigated the early spells with calm authority. Iqbal in particular looked in ominous touch, cracking eight boundaries with a swagger that briefly had the home support twitching in their deckchairs. But cricket is a cruel mistress, and Enfield's early foundation soon gave way to middle-order mediocrity. James Curtis got the breakthrough, removing Iqbal with a peach.

That opened the floodgates. From 1-52, Enfield slumped to 5-145, as the Hoddesdon bowlers turned the screw. Johnny Munday was instrumental, returning a superb 5 for 34 off just 6.5 overs. His removal of the dangerous Davis Mills (41) proved to be the turning point. Munday was well-supported by Om Thakeria (2-42) and Asif Mohammed (1-16), the former wrapping up the tail with precision. Enfield’s final total of 190 all out in 38.5 overs felt about 30 runs short of par, especially given the fast outfield and true bounce on offer.

CURTIS CLASS AND STONE STEADY AS HODDESDON LAUNCH CHASE
Hoddesdon’s response was anything but timid. While opener Bilal Ahmad (26) fell LBW after strong innings, it was James Curtis who lit the fuse. Blazing 51 from just 36 balls, the right-hander treated the Enfield seamers with utter disdain. His strokeplay was elegant yet punishing — seven boundaries and two massive sixes told the tale of a man in form and full of confidence.

Curtis’s departure at 1-75 brought captain Rob Walters to the crease, who chipped in a steady 12 before also succumbing to Mehrab Khan, Enfield’s most threatening bowler on the day. When Bilal and Walters fell in quick succession, the chase wobbled slightly at 2-100. But any nerves were soon soothed by a brilliant partnership between Clayton Stone (34 off 30) and Johnny Munday, the latter continuing his heroics from the first innings. Stone was all muscle and mischief — peppering the square boundaries with powerful cuts and pulls — while Munday played the long game, ticking over the scoreboard with smart placement and sharp running.

MUNDAY MASTERCLASS SEALS THE DEAL
When Stone departed for a well-made 34, caught by Davis Mills off Nick Jackson, the game was poised at 4-143. Enfield sensed an opening, but Munday had other ideas.

Unfazed by the pressure, he carried Hoddesdon to within touching distance of victory with an unbeaten 29 off 44, showcasing composure and cricketing nous beyond his years. His was not the flashiest knock of the day — that honour belonged to Curtis — but it was undoubtedly the most vital. Andrew Lewis contributed a brisk 21, and though Om Thakeria fell just before the finish, Munday and Harry Mason saw Hoddesdon over the line, securing a richly deserved victory with 4 wickets and 14 balls to spare.

MUNDAY THE MAN OF THE MOMENT
There was little doubt over who would be taking home the (albeit metaphorical) Man of the Match award. Johnny Munday’s all-round contribution — 5 wickets and a match-winning knock — was nothing short of spectacular. He bowled with guile, batted with grit, and fielded like a panther throughout.

Captain Rob Walters was quick to heap praise on his star performer:

“Johnny was superb today — he’s put in a lot of hard yards in training, and it’s great to see that pay off. This kind of performance sets the tone for our season.”

Munday himself was characteristically modest, deflecting attention to the team effort:

“The lads were brilliant. Everyone chipped in — Curtis set the tone with the bat, and Asif and Om backed me up really well with the ball. It was just nice to get over the line.”

ENFIELD LEFT TO RUE MISSED CHANCES
For Enfield, it was a case of what might have been. Having reached 145 for 5 with overs in hand, they would have backed themselves to post something around the 220-mark. But poor shot selection and a lack of late-innings firepower cost them dearly. Bowling-wise, they showed promise. Davis Mills was economical with figures of 1 for 6 off 4, and Mehrab Khan’s 2 for 35 off 8 was the pick of the bunch. But fielding lapses and a failure to build sustained pressure let Hoddesdon off the hook.

STAT ATTACK: THE NUMBERS BEHIND THE NARRATIVE

Johnny Munday: 4.5-0-34-5 with the ball, 29* (44) with the bat

James Curtis: 51 off 36 balls, 1 wicket with the ball

Davis Mills (Enfield): 41 (51) and 1-6 with the ball

Extras: A generous contributor — 10 gifted by Hoddesdon, 18 by Enfield

Fall of wickets: Enfield slumped from 1-52 to 5-145; Hoddesdon cruised from 1-75 to 6-194

Total Overs: 38.5 (Enfield), 35.2 (Hoddesdon)

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE TEAMS?
Hoddesdon’s campaign begins proper next week with the first league game of the season, buoyed by this confidence-boosting win. Enfield, meanwhile, will lick their wounds and look to tighten up with both bat and ball ahead of their next outing.

If this clash is any indication, both sides have plenty to look forward to this summer. For Hoddesdon, the future is bright — and it might just revolve around a lad named Munday...

#greenmachine