Hoddesdon CC 1st XI vs Chorleywood CC 1st XI
HPCL Championship | Saturday 26 July 2025 | Lowfield
Result: Hoddesdon CC won by 149 runs

There are some days in the cricketing calendar where everything seems to click – the sun holds firm, the runs flow, the wickets tumble, and the celebrations carry long into the night. Saturday was one of those days at Lowfield as Hoddesdon’s 1st XI delivered a commanding, all-round performance to dispatch a winless Chorleywood by 149 runs and continue their steady march up the HPCL Championship table.

In a match defined by disciplined batting, ruthless bowling and a communal club spirit, it was Jamie Curtis who stole the show with a phenomenal seven-wicket haul, earning him the prestigious Green Jacket award for performance of the day. But this was far from a one-man show – Hoddesdon’s top order fired with purpose, the fielding unit was sharp, and the occasion was rounded off by a raucous Race Night that saw the pavilion rocking late into the evening.

Hoddesdon Bat First – and Bat Big
With a couple of light showers in the air but no threat to the afternoon ahead, skipper Rob Walters won the toss and made the positive call to bat first. On a typically true Lowfield wicket with good bounce and value for shots, it was the right decision.

Walters opened alongside James Curtis, but the pair were separated early with Curtis falling for 4. An odd send off for Curtis followed, and that was to come back to haunt the visitors later on. That brought James Mitchell to the crease – and it marked the beginning of a crucial 133-run partnership that laid the foundation for the innings.

Walters looked in fine touch, driving fluently and working the gaps before falling for a well-compiled 36. From there, the innings belonged to Mitchell and Oliver Arkinstall. The pair turned the screw expertly, rotating the strike and punishing anything short or overpitched.

Arkinstall, typically fluent, reached his century in 104 balls – an innings of exceptional class that combined textbook strokeplay with controlled aggression. His knock of 103 included fifteen fours and three sixes and never allowed Chorleywood to settle.

Mitchell was equally impressive at the other end, crafting a stylish 86 off 144 balls. He guided the innings through the middle overs, absorbing pressure and accelerating as required. When he fell at 203-3, Hoddesdon were in a commanding position.

There were late cameos from Clayton Stone (20 off 24), and a few quick runs from Johnny Munday (5*) and Harry Mason (3*) to lift the total to an imposing 266 for 6 from 50 overs.

Chorleywood's bowling attack toiled with little reward. Luke Sutcliffe was the pick of their bowlers with 5 for 67, while Callum Scott and Bryan Davies tried to support, but none were able to consistently contain the flow of runs.

Curtis Unleashed – A Seven-Wicket Masterclass
If Chorleywood were hoping for a steady reply, their hopes were dashed almost immediately by the man of the moment, Jamie Curtis. The only side in the division without a win this year, the Rickmansworth based team were desperate to finally get the monkey off their back and claim a prized scalp on the road, but the Green Machine had other ideas and set about destroying any thoughts of a win with relative ease.

Curtis tore through the top and middle order like a man possessed, striking at regular intervals. Perhaps it was the verbal attack he received early on in the Hoddesdon innings that were still ringing in his ears, as he set about single handedly removing batsman after batsman. His rhythm was impeccable, his length immaculate, and his accuracy relentless. Chorleywood simply had no answer to a man on a mission. The bear had been poked and Curtis was in no mood for forgiveness, perhaps a lesson for us all in showing a little restraint and a modicum of respect for your opponent, especially so early on in the game.

He started with the big wicket of Edward Rogers, stumped by Steward, and then followed it up with the dismissals of Isaac Weintrob via LBW, Gene Tipping, Connor Scott, Bryan Davies and James Smithson – all victims of relentless pressure and probing line and length. The seventh and final scalp was Callum Scott, bowled for 17, as Curtis finished with astonishing figures of 7 for 23 from 15.1 overs, and a staggering economy of 1.52.

Curtis’s spell dismantled any realistic chase and left Chorleywood reeling at regular intervals. The only real resistance came from captain Luke Sutcliffe who managed 20 but failed to inspire his side to a more competitive response. He was supported admirably by Harry Mason, who picked up 2 wickets, including the dangerous Manjula Sandanayake. Om Thakeria claimed the afore mentioned wicket of captain Sutcliffe and at the death, Chorleywood were bowled out for just 117 in 27.2 overs, unable to handle the skill and pressure of Hoddesdon’s bowling unit.

A Day to Remember at Lowfield
This was one of those matches where every department delivered. The top order set the tone, the bowlers hunted as a pack – led brilliantly by Curtis – and the fielders backed them all the way with sharp stops and clean catches. Wicket keeper Steward was his usual alert self and contributed enormously and with no less than six different players taking catches, this was the epitome of a team effort. Skipper Rob Walters managed the innings astutely and marshalled his troops with authority. His decision to bat first was justified emphatically, and the team never took their foot off the gas.

After the match, Jamie Curtis was rightly presented with the 'Greene King Level Head' Green Jacket award, in front of a packed clubhouse and you can read all about that by clicking HERE.

Looking Ahead
With such a dominant performance, Hoddesdon are gathering real momentum in the Championship campaign. The batting unit is firing, the bowling attack looks potent, and the team spirit is palpable.

They’ll be looking to carry this energy into next weekend’s fixture and continue their charge up the table. With players like Arkinstall, Mitchell and Curtis all hitting form at the same time, few sides will fancy facing Hoddesdon in this mood. That said, they travel away to a high flying Broxbourne side who find themselves top of the table and unbeaten this season, and will surely offer a greater challenge than this past Saturday.

But for now, Hoddesdon take the win, the spoils, the points, the acclaim and all well deserved plaudits from a superb victory over the league's bottom side.

And yes, we will be sticking that on our Instagram...

#GreenMachine

Scorecard Summary
Hoddesdon CC 1st XI – 266/6 (50 overs)
Oliver Arkinstall 103 (104)
James Mitchell 86 (144)
Rob Walters 36 (41)
Clayton Stone 20 (24)
Luke Sutcliffe 5-67, Callum Scott 1-65

Chorleywood CC 1st XI – 117 all out (27.2 overs)
Edward Rogers 31, Luke Sutcliffee 20
James Curtis 7-23 (15.1 overs)
Harry Mason 2-43, Om Thakeria 1-24

Result: Hoddesdon CC won by 149 runs