Dunstable Town CC 1st XI vs Hoddesdon CC 1st XI
HPCL Championship Division
Venue: Lancot Park, Dunstable
Date: Saturday 21st June 2025
Result: Match Drawn
Toss: Dunstable Town CC won the toss and elected to bat
Weather: Scorching sun, temperatures soaring past 30°C

Spoils Shared on a Searing Saturday as Hoddesdon Hold Firm at Dunstable
On one of the hottest days of the summer so far – with heat warnings issued across the country – Hoddesdon’s 1st XI made the trip to Lancot Park, Dunstable for a crucial HPCL Championship Division encounter that ultimately ended in a hard-earned draw. In a match defined by guts, patience, and the draining grip of summer sun, both sides had their moments of dominance – but neither could land a decisive blow. Dunstable took 15 points from the draw, Hoddesdon 10, in a result that reflected the fine margins of a well-contested fixture.

First Session – Early Grind, Big Runs for Dunstable
With the mercury rising and the pitch looking dry and true, Dunstable skipper Sam Cherry had no hesitation in batting first. Hoddesdon captain Rob Walters led a side that showed resilience all day but found themselves chasing leather during a long first innings in the heat.

Dunstable’s innings got off to a cautious start but steadily gained momentum as opener Bradley Matthews played a pivotal knock, leading the innings with a brilliant 81 off 89 balls. His innings included 12 boundaries and was the backbone of a total that always looked like pushing beyond 250. Despite the heat, Hoddesdon’s bowlers stuck to their tasks manfully. Oliver Arkinstall, bowling a marathon 19-over spell, picked up 2 wickets but paid the price in runs, conceding 95. His effort summed up the sweat and toil required on a flat surface offering little help.

The real spark for Hoddesdon came from Om Thakeria, who impressed again with the ball, claiming 3-32 from 9 overs, including the key wickets of Kilduff, Bromhall and Luke Cherry in the middle stages of the innings. His control and guile provided crucial breakthroughs that briefly threatened to slow Dunstable’s charge.

However, with support from the middle order – Jack Kilduff (41), Mark Smith (15), and Luke Cherry (12) – the hosts continued to build towards a challenging total. Dunstable eventually ended on 274/8 from 60 overs, a total that gave them a full 60 overs to try and bowl Hoddesdon out.

In the field, Hoddesdon worked tirelessly. Harry Mason wheeled away for 20 overs for figures of 2-76, while Muhammad Hasan Ali and Johnny Munday provided support at key moments. But in the searing heat, the innings became as much a test of physical endurance as cricketing skill.

The Chase – Early Trouble, Middle Grit, Late Resolve
Chasing 275 in oppressive conditions was never going to be straightforward – and the reply didn’t begin well. Hoddesdon lost opener Will Steward early, caught by Smith for 1, with the score at 14.

Captain Rob Walters, however, rose once again to the occasion with a typically authoritative innings. Looking fluent and purposeful from ball one, Walters unleashed a flurry of crisp boundaries all around the wicket. He was severe on anything short or wide, punishing the Dunstable bowlers with a barrage of strokes square of the wicket. His 68 off 79 balls, including 11 fours, gave Hoddesdon early momentum and ensured they didn’t fall behind the rate.

But just as he looked set for another big score, Walters fell against the run of play – caught by the wicket keeper off the bowling of the impressive Kilduff (5-61), who proved a real threat with the ball throughout.

From there, Hoddesdon faced a familiar mid-innings wobble. Johnny Munday (22) and Oliver Arkinstall (19) got starts but failed to convert them into match-changing contributions. As wickets began to fall at regular intervals, the draw – rather than a win – increasingly became the realistic target.

Enter Clayton Stone, who batted with discipline and courage to compile a vital 36 off 55 balls, resisting Kilduff and Sam Cherry’s pressure spells with grit. Stone’s innings blunted Dunstable’s momentum during the middle period, buying time for Hoddesdon and ensuring they didn’t slide into collapse.

Stone eventually fell with the score at 161/6, leaving Hoddesdon with around 14 overs still to survive and only four wickets in hand.

Final Session – A Wall is Built
The final act of the drama belonged to Andrew Lewis and Harry Mason, whose unbroken stand at the end was worth far more than the 39 runs it added to the total. With the heat still unforgiving and Dunstable fielders circling like vultures, the pair knuckled down to survive.

Lewis, batting at 7, finished 16 not out off 50 balls, while Mason showed outstanding application in a supporting 23 not out from 48 deliveries, including three boundaries and countless leaves, blocks, and nudges. The pair showed immense composure under pressure, soaking up overs and stifling the opposition’s final charge.

When the umpires called stumps at 205/7 from 58 overs, Hoddesdon had secured the draw – not the win they may have hoped for in the morning, but a result that showcased the team’s determination and tactical discipline.

Reflections – A Point Gained, or a Chance Missed?
While the result was technically a draw, there were positives to be taken from both camps. Dunstable – 9th in the table – earned a morale-boosting 15 points that pushes them further from danger. For Hoddesdon, the 10 points keeps them in the top four – level with Redbourn and well in the hunt for promotion, but also with lessons to take from the game.

Rob Walters was once again at the forefront with the bat, adding another high-quality half-century to his growing 2025 portfolio. Thakeria’s performance marked him out as a player of great promise, while Stone’s temperament, Mason’s defiance, and Lewis’s calm head under pressure were hallmarks of a side building resilience as the summer heats up.

In truth, the pitch was good, the match long, and the sun relentless. But amidst all that, Hoddesdon found a way to fight and finish the job.

Statistical Summary
Dunstable Town CC 1st XI: 274/8 (60 overs)
Bradley Matthews 81 (89 balls, 12x4)
Jack Kilduff 41 (40), Mark Smith 15 (19)
Om Thakeria 3-32 (9), Oliver Arkinstall 2-95 (19), Harry Mason 2-76 (20)

Hoddesdon CC 1st XI: 205/7 (58 overs)
Rob Walters 68 (79 balls, 11x4)
Clayton Stone 36 (55), Harry Mason 23* (48), Andrew Lewis 16* (50)
Jack Kilduff 5-61 (20), Sam Cherry 1-33 (13)

Up Next
Hoddesdon return to Lowfield next Saturday for a mouth-watering clash against one of the division’s high-flyers, Shenley Village, just one place above them. With momentum still largely in their favour, and the top of the table tightening, every point matters as we continue through the season.

#GreenMachine