Match Preview: Hoddesdon CC 1st XI vs Dunstable Town CC 1st XI

Saturday 23rd August 2025 – Lowfield, 11:00am Start
HPCL Championship Division – 50/50

This Saturday, all eyes turn to Lowfield as Hoddesdon CC 1st XI, led by skipper Rob Walters, host Dunstable Town CC 1st XI in a crunch HPCL Championship Division encounter. With both teams at pivotal points in their seasons, this fixture promises to be fiercely contested and full of subplots, as the Green Machine look to protect home turf and bounce back from a poor run of form against a dangerous Dunstable side brimming with match-winners.

The State of the Table

The Championship standings tell a story of separation at both ends of the division. At the summit, Broxbourne CC are flying high on 362 points, closely followed by Old Owens CC (329) and Shenley Village CC (269), while Redbourn sit fourth on 256.

In mid-table, Dunstable Town CC hold 5th place with 249 points, within touching distance of the top four but equally wary of being dragged back down into the chasing pack. Hoddesdon CC, meanwhile, find themselves in 7th place on 212 points, sandwiched between Hemel Hempstead Town (239) above and Preston CC (162) below. The Green Machine’s recent dip in form has tightened the gap to the relegation scrap, and Walters’ men know that home fixtures like this one are vital if they are to climb away from danger and finish the season on a high.

Form Guide – Two Sides, Two Stories

The contrasting form of the two teams only adds spice to the occasion.

Hoddesdon CC 1st XI: Winless in their last three, with a recent record of L, L, L, W, X. Despite flashes of quality, consistency has eluded them, and Lowfield has not been the fortress Walters would want it to be this season.

Dunstable Town CC 1st XI: Arrive with confidence, unbeaten in their last two. Their recent record of W, W, L, D, X shows resilience, and back-to-back wins have lifted spirits in their camp.

Momentum may be on Dunstable’s side, but the Green Machine will be desperate to reset that narrative in front of their home supporters.

Hoddesdon CC – The XI to Watch

Skipper Rob Walters has once again named a strong side, mixing experience, young talent, and overseas quality.

The Batting Core

• Rob Walters (c): The heartbeat of Hoddesdon cricket. Walters has already produced match-winning innings this season, none more memorable than his stunning 144 at Lowfield against Redbourn earlier in the summer. As captain and talisman, his ability to set the tone at the top of the order will be key.
• James Curtis: A proven run-scorer and the man who recently claimed a seven-wicket haul against Chorleywood, Curtis’ dual threat makes him invaluable. With the bat, his composure can steady the ship; with the ball, he has the knack of finding breakthroughs.
• James Jr Mitchell: One of Hoddesdon’s promising youngsters, Mitchell has shown glimpses of his talent this year. He will be eager to make a mark in such an important fixture.
• Oliver Arkinstall & Clayton Stone: The overseas duo have both contributed crucially in the middle order. Stone, in particular, has been a reliable source of runs, his unbeaten 60 in the Redbourn chase still fresh in memory. Arkinstall’s flair complements Stone’s steadiness.
• Johnny Munday: Another product of the youth ranks, Munday’s fearless approach brings energy and unpredictability to the middle order.

The All-Round Depth

• Rob Jones & Harry Mason: Two dependable all-rounders, equally comfortable digging in with the bat or offering important overs or fielding prowess. Their versatility gives Walters plenty of options in a 50-over contest.
• Finley Higgs: A developing bowler with raw talent, Higgs continues to grow in confidence. His role in breaking partnerships could prove decisive.
• Om Thakeria & Muhammad Hasan Ali: The bowling attack is rounded out by two who bring variation – Thakeria with his control and Ali with his ability to unsettle batters. Their contribution in the middle overs could swing the balance.

With this line-up, Hoddesdon have depth in both departments. The challenge is converting potential into a complete team performance.

Dunstable Town CC – Danger Men Identified

Dunstable’s team sheet highlights just how many match-winners they can call upon. Hoddesdon’s bowlers will need to be on high alert.

• Jack Kilduff (Top Run Scorer – 755 runs): Consistency personified. Kilduff’s weight of runs makes him the rock around which Dunstable build innings. If Hoddesdon can remove him early, it would be a huge boost.
• Bradley Matthews (Highest Individual Score – 137): Capable of going big, Matthews is the man who can single-handedly take a game away from the opposition. A century-maker of real pedigree, his wicket will be a prized scalp.
• Harry McBrearty (Highest Strike Rate – 121): The accelerator. McBrearty can transform a solid platform into a match-winning total in a matter of overs. Containing his hitting power will be essential.
• Sam Cherry (Top Wicket Taker – 37 wickets & Best Bowling – 6/47): The spearhead of the Dunstable attack. Cherry has been lethal with the ball this season, combining wicket-taking ability with devastating spells that can shred through top orders. Hoddesdon’s batters must navigate him carefully.
• Nathaniel Cunnold (Best Economy – 3.49): The control bowler. In an era of big-hitting, Cunnold’s tight economy makes him just as dangerous as the wicket-takers. Dot balls build pressure, and pressure brings wickets.

This blend of batting firepower and bowling discipline makes Dunstable a serious challenge, and it explains why they sit comfortably in the top half of the table.

Key Battles to Watch

• Walters vs Cherry – Captain against spearhead. Walters’ ability to blunt Cherry’s new-ball spell could set the tone for Hoddesdon’s innings.
• Curtis & Stone vs Cunnold – Hoddesdon’s middle order must find ways to rotate strike against the miserly Cunnold, avoiding stagnation.
• Kilduff vs Hoddesdon’s new-ball attack – Removing Dunstable’s top run-scorer early will be crucial to disrupting their batting plans.
• McBrearty vs the death bowlers – If he’s still at the crease in the final 10 overs, McBrearty could tilt the balance firmly Dunstable’s way.

The Lowfield Factor

Lowfield has hosted some memorable battles this summer, from Walters’ heroics with the bat to Curtis’ record-breaking seven-for. The ground has seen high scores chased down as well as bowlers dominate when conditions suit. With the weather set fair for Saturday, expect a true pitch and a quick outfield. That means batters will have their chance to cash in, but only if they can survive the new ball. Bowlers who can find movement early, or vary their pace intelligently later, will still play decisive roles. The Lowfield faithful will also play their part. With strong support expected, Hoddesdon will hope the crowd can lift them when the pressure moments come.

Last Time Out

These two sides met in the reverse fixture, back in mid June. 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.

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.

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.

While the result was technically a draw, there were positives to be taken from both camps. Dunstable earned a morale-boosting 15 points that pushed them further from danger. For Hoddesdon, the 10 points kept them in the top four, but also with lessons to take from the game. But amidst all that, Hoddesdon found a way to fight and finish the job.

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)

What’s at Stake

For Hoddesdon, the stakes couldn’t be clearer: A win would not only halt their recent slump but could also propel them closer to Hemel Hempstead in mid-table and ease relegation fears. A loss, however, risks being dragged further into the scrap with Preston, Reed, and Chorleywood below. For Dunstable, victory keeps them on the heels of the top four, with an outside shot of breaking into contention for higher honours. Defeat would stall their momentum and leave them vulnerable to those below.

On paper, Dunstable come in as favourites – their batting strength and bowling spearheads give them a balanced unit in strong form. But cricket is rarely that simple. At Lowfield, Hoddesdon have the firepower to upset the odds. If Walters can deliver another captain’s knock and the young attack can find a way through Kilduff and Matthews, the Green Machine can absolutely finish their season strongly. Expect a close, hard-fought contest, with momentum swinging throughout. One inspired performance – a big hundred, a five-wicket haul, or even a game-changing cameo – could well decide the outcome.

Final Word

This Saturday’s clash at Lowfield between Hoddesdon CC 1st XI and Dunstable Town CC 1st XI is a battle between moving on up and ambition, between a side desperate to rediscover form and another pushing for the top four. With standout performers on both sides and the backdrop of the Championship table tightening, it has all the ingredients of a classic.

First ball is at 11:00am – don’t miss it.

#GreenMachine