Hoddesdon CC 1st XI vs Dunstable Town CC 1st XI – Match Report

Saturday 23rd August 2025 – HPCL Championship Division (50/50), Lowfield
Result: Hoddesdon won by 8 wickets

A Glorious Day at Lowfield

Lowfield was bathed in late-summer sunshine on Saturday as Hoddesdon Cricket Club 1st XI welcomed Dunstable Town for a crucial Hertfordshire Premier Cricket League Championship Division clash. Both sides entered the contest needing points — Hoddesdon to continue their rise away from the lower reaches of the table, and Dunstable to stay in touch with the top half. What followed was one of the most entertaining games seen at Lowfield this season: runs flowed, milestones were achieved, and in the end, the home side ran out emphatic winners by eight wickets.

Captain Rob Walters, leading from the front as ever, produced yet another masterclass with the bat, while James Curtis tore into the Dunstable attack with a whirlwind hundred. Together, they delivered a partnership that left the visitors shellshocked. Walters’ innings not only set up victory but also carried him past the magical 1000-run mark for the season — a feat very rarely seen at this level. The two men were deservedly named joint winners of the club’s Green Jacket award, recognition of a day that will live long in Hoddesdon folklore.

Dunstable Choose to Bat

Winning the toss on a flat wicket, Dunstable skipper Sam Cherry chose to bat first. It was a bold call given Hoddesdon’s strong chasing record, but Cherry clearly backed his side’s batting firepower. The visitors got off to a nervous start. Muhammad Hasan Ali struck early, removing Jackson Shaw for 9, and followed up with the wicket of Bradley Matthews for 11, caught by Harry Mason off a ball that seemed to stay in the air forever. At 32-2, Hoddesdon sensed an opportunity.

However, the Dunstable middle order rallied superbly. Rowan Bascetta-Pollitt was the glue of the innings, compiling a magnificent 118 from 152 balls. His patience and placement were a lesson in classical batting, cementing his side’s innings while others played around him. Cherry himself was the aggressor, racing to 80 off just 73 deliveries, striking five boundaries and five towering sixes to delight the small band of travelling supporters.

Jack Kilduff chipped in with a handy 23, but Hoddesdon’s bowlers stuck to their plans and ensured Dunstable never truly got away. Seamer Hasan Ali was particularly impressive, returning figures of 2-42 from his nine overs. Oliver Arkinstall picked up the prize wicket of Bascetta-Pollitt late in the piece, while Om Thakeria chipped in with the scalp of Cherry. James Curtis, used cleverly as a change bowler, bowled an economical spell of 10 overs for just 28 runs, drying up the runs at a crucial stage.

By the close of their 50 overs, Dunstable had posted a challenging 298-5. It was an imposing score, but on a superb batting surface at Lowfield, Hoddesdon knew they were in with a chance — and with Walters and Curtis at the top of the order, anything was possible.

Walters and Curtis Take Centre Stage

What happened next will be talked about for years to come. Walters and Curtis strode to the crease knowing that a strong start was vital. What followed was nothing short of devastating for Dunstable.

From the very beginning, Curtis set the tone. Timing the ball sweetly, he peppered the boundary with a string of drives, pulls, and cuts. His innings was an exhibition of controlled aggression, and the Dunstable bowlers had no answer. In just 69 balls, he brought up his hundred, a thunderous knock of 107 that included 11 fours and six sixes. It was one of the most destructive innings witnessed at Lowfield this summer and left the opposition scrambling for answers.

At the other end, Walters was his typically composed self. Where Curtis bludgeoned, Walters built with finesse, guiding the ball into gaps, punishing anything loose, and running with urgency between the wickets. His knock of 104 from 119 deliveries was a masterclass in pacing a chase. It also carried him to an extraordinary personal milestone: he became only the second batsman in the league, along with James Logan of high flying Broxbourne, to pass 1000 runs this season, finishing the day on 1049.

Together, the pair added 178 runs for the first wicket, completely breaking the back of the chase. The crowd knew they were witnessing something special, and when Walters eventually departed — trapped LBW for 104 — the ovation he received reflected both his innings and his season-long achievements.

Andrew Lewis and Arkinstall Finish the Job

After Curtis fell shortly after reaching his hundred, there was no collapse, no nerves, just further dominance from Hoddesdon. Andrew Lewis came in at number three and played with maturity beyond his years. His unbeaten 50 off 58 balls, sprinkled with eight boundaries, ensured there was no late drama. Lewis has been growing into his role this season, and this innings underlined his importance to the side’s future. It was a fine knock and perhaps a glimpse into the future.

Oliver Arkinstall added a quickfire 12* from just nine deliveries, including a sweetly struck six, to put the finishing touches on the chase. Hoddesdon romped home in just 42 overs, finishing on 300-2, a statement victory that secured them 25 crucial league points.

Bowling Efforts in Context

While Hoddesdon’s batsmen stole the headlines, credit must also go to the bowlers for keeping Dunstable in check. On such a flat pitch, anything under 300 would have been considered a good effort, and the home attack achieved just that. Hasan Ali once again showed his growing reputation with disciplined new-ball bowling, while Arkinstall’s wicket of Bascetta-Pollitt was a vital breakthrough. Thakeria’s dismissal of Cherry, the most dangerous Dunstable player, was equally significant. Curtis’ economy — just 2.8 runs per over across ten overs — also played a huge part in swinging momentum back to Hoddesdon. His all-round contribution, both with bat and ball, was nothing short of sensational.

A Season of Runs – Walters’ Landmark

Perhaps the defining moment of the day, however, was Walters’ season milestone. The skipper has been in imperious form throughout 2025, but to cross 1000 runs with two weeks of the season still remaining is a staggering achievement. His tally of 1049 runs puts him clear at the top of the league run-scorers, ahead of James Logan (1010) and Kieran Jones (922). His consistency has been remarkable: four centuries and five half-centuries across 15 innings, with an average hovering around 70. Walters has carried Hoddesdon through difficult games this season, but here he was joined by Curtis in full flow, and together they produced a partnership that will live long in the memory. The sight of Walters raising his bat to acknowledge the applause for his 1000th run was one of those moments Lowfield will cherish.

Green Jacket Double – Curtis and Walters Share the Honour

In the post-match celebrations, the Green Jacket award — Hoddesdon’s player-of-the-day accolade — was presented jointly to Walters and Curtis. It was a fitting decision. Walters’ milestone innings and Curtis’ explosive hundred were equally pivotal, and together they embodied the attacking spirit that defined Hoddesdon’s victory. The two men shared smiles and laughter as they posed for photos in the famous jacket, a reminder of just how special the day had been.

The League Picture

Victory lifted Hoddesdon to 237 points, keeping them seventh in the table but crucially pulling them further clear of the relegation zone and into safety. With Preston (171) and Reed (169) still struggling at the foot of the division, Hoddesdon have put daylight between themselves and the drop. The top of the table remains fiercely competitive, with Broxbourne (387), Old Owens (354), and Redbourn (281) battling for honours. But for Walters’ men, survival and mid-table respectability was the immediate goal — and they achieved it with distinction.

Dunstable, meanwhile, remain fifth on 257 points. While their batting looks strong, their bowling frailties were exposed at Lowfield, and they will need to find solutions quickly if they are to challenge the top four in the run-in.

Voices from the Dressing Room

After the match, Walters was understandably delighted.

“To pass 1000 runs is special, but more importantly, the team performance today was outstanding. Jamie Curtis was sensational, and to share that partnership with him was a real joy. We knew 298 was chaseable if we batted sensibly, and to get there with eight wickets in hand shows the depth and confidence in this side.”

Curtis, too, was beaming:

“I just felt in the zone today. The ball came onto the bat nicely, and I wanted to be positive from the start. Batting with Rob makes it easier — he keeps things calm and steady, and that allowed me to play my natural game. It’s a day I won’t forget.”

Match Summary

Dunstable Town CC 1st XI: 298-5 (50 overs)
Rowan Bascetta-Pollitt 118, Sam Cherry 80, Muhammad Hasan Ali 2-42

Hoddesdon CC 1st XI: 300-2 (42 overs)
James Curtis 107, Rob Walters 104, Andrew Lewis 50*

Result: Hoddesdon won by 8 wickets

Green Jacket Winners: Rob Walters & James Curtis

Conclusion

This was one of Hoddesdon’s finest days of the 2025 campaign. Not only did they defeat a strong Dunstable side with authority, but they also celebrated a milestone for their inspirational captain and enjoyed the emergence of Curtis as a devastating force at the top of the order. Walters’ 1000 runs will be the headline, but Curtis’ hundred will be remembered with equal fondness. For supporters, it was a day to savour: sunshine, sixes, and success at Lowfield.

With confidence flowing and key players in top form, Hoddesdon look well placed to finish the season strongly. If Walters and Curtis can maintain their partnership at the top, there may be more memorable days ahead before the summer is out.