Match Report: Redbourn CC 1st XI vs Hoddesdon CC 1st XI

HPCL Championship Division – Saturday, 16 August 2025
Venue: Redbourn Cricket Club
Result: Redbourn CC won by 5 wickets

On a warm Saturday afternoon, Hoddesdon CC 1st XI made the journey to Redbourn for another key clash in the HPCL Championship Division. With the league table beginning to take shape in the latter part of the summer, every point mattered, particularly for Hoddesdon.

Captain Rob Walters led his side with confidence, winning the toss and electing to bat first on a pitch that looked good for runs. Redbourn knew victory would keep them on the heels of the top three, while Hoddesdon were desperate to put together a statement performance against one of the stronger sides in the division. What followed was a contest that had everything: a determined effort with the bat from Hoddesdon, flashes of resistance through key partnerships, and then one of the most brutal innings of the season from Redbourn’s Ed Hales, whose whirlwind 129 off just 48 balls took the game away in devastating fashion.

Hoddesdon’s Innings – A Mixed Bag

Batting first, Hoddesdon sought to build a competitive total, but Redbourn’s bowlers never allowed them to settle for long. The innings began cautiously with skipper Rob Walters and James Curtis opening proceedings. Walters, usually such a reliable presence at the top, found scoring opportunities hard to come by. He scratched around for 14 from 36 deliveries before falling to the impressive Ethan Bury to give Redbourn their breakthrough at 34-1. Curtis, meanwhile, looked more fluent, striking three early boundaries on his way to 16 from 17 balls. But just as he threatened to kick on, he too fell to Bury, caught by Ed Hales to leave Hoddesdon wobbling slightly at 45-2.

The situation demanded someone to steady the ship, and in stepped James Mitchell. His knock of 40 from 70 balls was not the flashiest innings, but it was absolutely crucial in providing a backbone. Mitchell soaked up pressure and showed the application required on a surface that wasn’t as straightforward as first thought. He combined patience with occasional aggression, striking six fours. However, wickets continued to fall at the other end. Oliver Arkinstall’s stay was short, lasting just eight balls before he edged behind for one. Clayton Stone, normally a key run-getter in the middle order, contributed 32 from 44 balls, a tidy knock that included five boundaries but ended when he was bowled by Adam Pritchard.

At 125-5, Hoddesdon were in danger of folding for a sub-par total, but the innings was given life by Johnny Munday. The youngster has been growing in stature this season, and here he played a composed yet positive knock of 50 not out from 57 balls. It was an innings that blended responsibility with attacking intent, including seven fours and a six. Munday shared vital stands with Rob Jones (18), Harry Mason (12), and Muhammad Hasan Ali (12 from just 10 balls, including a maximum) to keep the scoreboard moving. Late impetus came from these partnerships, particularly when Muhammad Hasan Ali struck a quickfire cameo, before he was eventually dismissed with the score on 224-8.

Finlay Higgs chipped in with 4 not out at the death, leaving Hoddesdon at 228-8 from their full 50 overs.

It was a total that felt competitive but certainly below par on a ground known for its quick scoring. With extras contributing a hefty 29 (including 19 wides), the lack of control from Redbourn’s bowlers boosted their tally.

Bowling Efforts – Redbourn Share the Wickets

Redbourn’s bowling unit stuck to their task and never allowed Hoddesdon to gain full control. The pick of the attack was undoubtedly Ethan Bury, who finished with outstanding figures of 3-36 from his 10 overs. His ability to move the ball and dismiss both openers set the tone. Support came from Adam Pritchard (2-42), Alex Salter (1-43), and Joshua Arnold (1-38). Each bowler chipped in with key breakthroughs at crucial stages, preventing Hoddesdon from stringing together a truly dominant partnership. Perhaps most impressive for Redbourn was the discipline with which they bowled in the middle overs, ensuring Mitchell and Munday had to graft hard for their runs.

Redbourn’s Chase – The Ed Hales Show

If Hoddesdon had any hopes of defending 228, they were rapidly dismantled by an extraordinary innings from Redbourn opener Ed Hales. From the moment he strode to the crease, Hales batted as though on a different surface entirely. He launched into the Hoddesdon attack with breathtaking power, smashing 129 runs from just 48 balls, an innings littered with 15 fours and 10 towering sixes. Hales’ strike rate of 268.8 tells its own story. He raced to fifty and reached his century in what felt like the blink of an eye. The run rate graph tells the tale: after just 10 overs, Redbourn were already well ahead of the required rate, leaving Hoddesdon’s bowlers shell-shocked and the fielders chasing leather to all parts of the ground.

Conor Yorath supported with 17, while Tom Edrich (9) and Harry Cobb (15) tried to keep the momentum flowing after Hales’ eventual dismissal, but the bulk of the work was already done. Adam Pritchard’s composed 29 not out ensured there were no late hiccups, and along with George Cutler (20), he saw Redbourn comfortably across the line in just 30 overs.

Redbourn finished on 229-5, winning by five wickets.

Hoddesdon’s Bowling – Few Answers

For Hoddesdon’s bowlers, it was a chastening afternoon. Facing an onslaught like Hales’ would have been a nightmare scenario for any attack, but the lack of early breakthroughs proved costly. Om Thakeria was the standout performer, taking 3-49 from his 10 overs. He dismissed both Yorath and Cobb, giving Hoddesdon some respite. Oliver Arkinstall chipped in with 1-36, while Harry Mason grabbed 1-45.

But the figures tell the story: almost every bowler suffered at the hands of Hales’ brutality. James Curtis’s solitary over went for 24, while Mitchell (0-53 from 6) and Hasan Ali (0-19 from 3) couldn’t stem the flow. The extras were more disciplined compared to their own batting innings, but the damage was done by one man’s brilliance.

Match Turning Points

• Walters’ Early Dismissal – Losing the captain cheaply set the tone for Hoddesdon’s innings. His wicket at 34-1 left them immediately under pressure.
• Munday’s Fifty – The young batter’s 50 in the Championship showed maturity and gave Hoddesdon something to defend.
• Hales’ Assault – Quite simply, this was the decisive moment. His 129 destroyed Hoddesdon’s hopes before they had even settled into their bowling plans.

League Implications

For Redbourn, the victory was significant. The 25 points lifted them to 256, consolidating fourth place and keeping them within touching distance of Shenley Village and Old Owens in the race for promotion.

For Hoddesdon, the defeat leaves them stranded in seventh on 212 points. With Preston, Reed, and Chorleywood below them, relegation danger still lingers from a mathematical point of view, but they will need to find consistency quickly to avoid being dragged into a scrap.

Post-Match Reflections

Speaking afterwards, Rob Walters admitted his side had been blown away by one of the great innings of the season:

“You just have to hold your hands up sometimes. We didn’t bowl badly in those first 10 overs, but Hales was in another league today. Credit to him – it was clean striking and he took the game away before we could adapt.”

On Hoddesdon’s own batting effort, Walters was keen to find positives:

“We’d have liked 250-plus, of course, but I thought Johnny Munday showed great character and James Mitchell played an important knock for us. It wasn’t an easy surface to score quickly on, and we felt at halfway that 228 was defendable. Unfortunately, when someone plays like that against you, all plans go out the window.”

Statistical Highlights

• Top Scorer (Match): Ed Hales – 129 (48 balls, 15 fours, 10 sixes)
• Top Scorer (Hoddesdon): Johnny Munday – 50* (57 balls)
• Best Bowling (Hoddesdon): Om Thakeria – 3/49 (10 overs)
• Best Bowling (Redbourn): Ethan Bury – 3/36 (10 overs)

Looking Ahead

Hoddesdon now face a crucial run of fixtures in their bid to climb the Championship table. The batting order showed glimpses of promise, but greater consistency is required, particularly from the top order, to set more daunting totals. With bowlers like Thakeria and Mason still capable of troubling sides, the focus will be on executing plans more effectively in the early overs. A home tie up next against Dunstable CC offer another chance to climb. Redbourn, meanwhile, look a formidable unit with bat and ball. If they can build around Hales’ power and continue to support him with disciplined bowling, they will remain firmly in the hunt for a top 3 finish.

Final Word

This was a match ultimately defined by one extraordinary innings. Hoddesdon fought hard, stitched together important partnerships, and produced a total that in many weeks might have been competitive. But against Ed Hales in this form, 228 was never going to be enough. Redbourn’s victory by five wickets with 20 overs in hand was a statement of intent, while Hoddesdon were left to regroup and prepare for the battles to come.

#GreenMachine