Walters 158 sinks Totteridge

Saturday 9th May saw Hoddesdon 1st XI travel to a overcast and windy Totteridge Millhillians for the first league 50-50 of the 2015 season.

Having lost the toss Rob Walter's side were put into bat by Totteridge's Skipper Steve Sellwood on a patchy damp wicket. Hoddesdon got off to a scrappy start with the new ball seaming and nipping around and opener Rob Jones fell victim to this early movement.

With the departure of Jones, Sam Davis joined Rob Walters at the crease and both played positively punishing the bad until Sam Davis was bowled for 24. Walters, continued to play a smart a selective innings backed up by overseas Josh Bailey. The duo picked off the singles and quickly brought up the 100 for HCC in the 23rd Over.

Bailey, now set and familiar with wicket conditions played a mature, supportive role to Rob Walters grinding away at the TMH bowling attack. Walters, scoring his first 50 from 94 balls upped the pace and smashed the ball all round the park then brought up his 100 with a beautiful punch down the ground.

The pair brought up Hoddesdon's 200 in 41st over and with 9 overs to go went to town on a TMH bowlers smashing consecutive boundaries. Walters eyeing up his 150 proceeded pepper the club house and it wasn't long before he reached his target. His Pleur innings finally came to a end when he was bowled by Wray for 158. Hoddesdon finished their 50 overs on 305 for 3, with Josh Bailey 79no.

Hoddesdon took to the field knowing that 305 was a great score but the game wasn't won yet, their bowlers to back up the batsman hard work and thats exactly what they did.

Sam Davis struck early on with the wicket of Butterworth in the 1st over and he was backed up by some excellent bowling from James Mead. Mead bowling great areas to the TMH Left/Right hand combo restricted them scoring any runs and picked up the vital wickets of O'Brien and Sellwood. He ended with figures of 10 overs 2 wickets for 30 runs.

Bill Thorn and George Duke continued the good work with the ball both picking up 2 wickets a piece and by this stage TMH batting attack had collapsed and Hoddesdon were firmly in control. Some suspect running between the wicket led to Rob Jones running out Ross Sutcliffe and some extremely good fielding made it hard for TMH to score easily. TMH were finally all out for 141 with Martin Brown and Rob Walters picking up the wickets of the tail.