Hoddesdon CC 1st XI v Broxbourne CC 1st XI
HPCL Championship Division – Saturday 31st May 2025 | Lowfield, Hoddesdon
Result: Broxbourne CC won by 67 runs
Broxbourne 250/7 (50 overs)
Hoddesdon 183 all out (43.4 overs)

Broxbourne CC’s 1st XI reinforced their status as the early pacesetters in this year’s HPCL Championship Division with a powerful all-round performance to defeat Hoddesdon CC by 67 runs at Lowfield on Saturday.

In a high-quality top-of-the-table clash, the league leaders’ deep batting line-up and relentless bowling proved just too much on the day for the Green Machine, despite brave efforts from several home players — most notably Rob Jones with a superb 65, and Muhammad Hasan Ali, Om Thakeria and Harry Mason with the ball.

The result sees Broxbourne maintain their 100% start to the season and move to 100 points from four matches, keeping them joint top with Old Owens. Hoddesdon stay in third on 66 points after collecting 7 bonus points for their efforts — and with plenty of positives to take forward despite the defeat.

Match Summary
Toss: Broxbourne CC won the toss and elected to bat first.

Broxbourne 1st XI innings: 250/7 (50 overs)
James Logan 72, Freddie Sheehan 37, Niall Robinson 30 not out
Muhammad Hasan Ali 2-46, James Curtis 0-34, Oliver Arkinstall 1-50, Harry Mason 2-33

Hoddesdon 1st XI innings: 183 all out (43.4 overs)
Rob Jones 65, Clayton Stone 34, Harry Mason 21
Sam Neale 2-26, Benji Richardson 3-32, Robin Glassberg 2-37

Result: Broxbourne CC won by 67 runs
Points: Broxbourne 25pts, Hoddesdon 7pts

First Innings: Broxbourne Build a Competitive Total
Broxbourne skipper George Davies won an important toss on a warm, breezy afternoon and had no hesitation in batting first on what looked a good Lowfield surface. Opening pair Davies and James Logan made a positive start against the new ball. However, it was Hoddesdon’s in-form quick Muhammad Hasan Ali who struck first, removing Davies for 20 with a sharp delivery.

Curtis and Arkinstall Apply Pressure
James Curtis, fresh from his 4fer spell at Chorleywood the previous week, kept the pressure on through the middle overs with another probing spell and supported well by Oliver Arkinstall (10-1-50-1), the latter picking up the key wicket of Syed Muzammil Ali and bowling with excellent control.

At 103/4 , Hoddesdon had fought back well — but Broxbourne’s deep batting again told.

Logan Anchors, Late Fireworks Push Total to 250
James Logan was the glue of the Broxbourne innings, compiling a well-paced 72 from 122 balls — anchoring the innings while others played around him. Mason finally removed the issue but the damage had been done. The key late contributions came from Freddie Sheehan, who blazed a quickfire 37 off 21 balls with 5 boundaries, and Niall Robinson, whose 30 not out gave the visitors crucial late momentum.

Despite some excellent death bowling from Om Thakeria, Broxbourne closed on 250/7 — an above-par score but one Hoddesdon felt they could chase with a good start.

Second Innings: Broxbourne Strike Early
Chasing 251, Hoddesdon knew a strong top-order performance would be key — but the Broxbourne new-ball attack of Sam Neale and Joss Rodman made immediate inroads.

Skipper Rob Walters (9) and opener James Curtis (2) both fell inside the third over, both to Neale, leaving Hoddesdon 13/2 and on the back foot early.

Middle-Order Fightback Led by Rob Jones
The innings was stabilised by Rob Jones, who played the standout knock of the day for Hoddesdon. Coming in with the scoreboard at a precarious 13/3 after Oliver Arkinstall fell for a rare and uncharacteristic duck, Jones showed great composure and timing in his innings of 65 from 66 balls — including 4 fours and 4 sixes. He was well supported by Clayton Stone (34 off 78 balls), who anchored one end through the middle overs as Hoddesdon rebuilt to 108/6.

The key phase of the game came through the middle overs, where Broxbourne’s bowlers mixed spin and pace expertly. Benji Richardson (8-1-32-3) was particularly effective, picking up vital wickets and drying up scoring opportunities.

When Rob Jones was tenth out for 65 — having battled brilliantly to keep the chase alive — the target had slipped out of reach, and Hoddesdon were finally bowled out for 183 in 43.4 overs, falling 67 runs short.

Hoddesdon Man of the Match: Rob Jones
Despite the result, Rob Jones was the clear standout performer for Hoddesdon — earning both the club’s Man of the Match award and this week’s coveted Green Jacket. Coming in with the innings under huge pressure at 13/3, Jones played a composed, intelligent and aggressive knock of 65 from 66 balls, striking 4 fours and 4 sixes to give Hoddesdon a fighting chance in the run chase. His ability to counter-attack and build partnerships stood out on a day when runs were hard-earned — a performance full of class, grit and leadership.

Captain’s Verdict: Rob Walters Reflects
After the game, Hoddesdon skipper Rob Walters was realistic about the result but praised his side’s fight:

“Credit to Broxbourne — they’re the benchmark in the league right now and they executed their plans well. I thought our bowlers kept us in the game, and Rob Jones batted brilliantly to give us a chance, but we just didn’t quite get enough partnerships through the middle.

We’ll regroup — this side is building well, and there’s lots of character in the dressing room. We’re still very much in the mix.”

The Bigger Picture: League Table Update
Despite the defeat, Hoddesdon’s 7 bonus points were valuable — keeping them third in the table on 66 points, tied with Shenley Village and well in contention at this early stage. Broxbourne and Old Owens remain locked at the top on 100 points each, but there is a long way to go — and with Hoddesdon set to face a few sides below them in the coming weeks, the opportunity is there to stay firmly in the promotion picture.

Next Up: Eyes on a Bounce Back
The Green Machine will now turn their attention to this Saturday’s fixture, looking to bounce back with renewed energy. It couldn't be a tougher fixture, as they travel away to Old Owens to face a side who are going stride for stride with Broxbourne after 4 games.

However, with the bowlers continuing to impress and the batting unit showing glimpses of their firepower, Hoddesdon remain one of the most dangerous sides in the division — and few would bet against a strong response.

#GreenMachine