On a blisteringly hot afternoon in Sawbridgeworth, with temperatures soaring to around 32 degrees and players from both sides guzzling fluids at every available opportunity, Hoddesdon CC 1st XI produced a statement victory of the highest order to maintain their perfect start to the 2026 HPCL Championship Division campaign.

Captain Rob Walters led from the front magnificently with a colossal 158, overseas star Himesh Ramanayake delivered another all-round masterclass with 81 and four wickets, and Hoddesdon ultimately overwhelmed previously unbeaten Sawbridgeworth by 62 runs in a top-of-the-table showdown that had been eagerly anticipated all week.

Three games. Three wins. Top of the table.

And perhaps most impressively of all, this was achieved away from home against another side who had also begun the season with back-to-back victories. The heat was relentless throughout the afternoon, with players retreating to shade wherever they could find it between overs and drinks breaks becoming increasingly welcome as the day wore on. Yet Hoddesdon’s energy, intensity and togetherness never dipped, even as bodies tired and shirts became drenched in sweat.

Having won the toss, Walters elected to bat first on what looked an excellent surface at Town Fields, though there was always the danger that batting in such extreme conditions could become physically draining. If anything, Hoddesdon thrived in it. The innings did not begin perfectly when Usman Shafi fell for a first-ball duck, caught by wicket keeper Charlie Mann off the bowling of George Kenny with only eight runs on the board. Sawbridgeworth sensed an early opening and Kenny, who had taken five wickets the previous weekend against Welwyn Garden City, immediately looked dangerous once again.

But from that point onward, Walters took complete control of proceedings.

Alongside the evergreen Jamie Curtis, the Hoddesdon skipper steadied things calmly, intelligently and with the sort of authority that only top players possess. Curtis, so often reliable with both bat and ball for Hoddesdon over the years, once again demonstrated his value to the side with a measured 31 from 47 balls. The pair added 95 for the second wicket under increasingly fierce sunshine, rotating strike cleverly while punishing anything loose. Walters reached his half-century in just 49 balls, peppering the boundary rope repeatedly with trademark drives and powerful pulls. Curtis eventually departed at 103-2, caught by Mann off Sayed Aziz, before James Mitchell Jr came to the crease.

Mitchell’s talent is no secret around Hertfordshire cricket circles and although the exciting youngster only made eight on this occasion, there were still glimpses of the elegant strokeplay and composure that make him one of the county’s brightest prospects. At 126-3, the game still felt finely balanced.

Then came the defining partnership of the match.

With Walters already set and Ramanayake arriving at the crease, Sawbridgeworth suddenly found themselves under relentless pressure from both ends. The overseas star looked increasingly fluent as he settled in, timing the ball beautifully through the off side while also showing tremendous composure in the searing heat. Together, Walters and Himesh added a stunning 169-run partnership that completely transformed the afternoon. Walters marched to a magnificent century from 106 balls, eventually reaching 158 from 147 deliveries in a truly extraordinary innings featuring 22 fours and four sixes. It was an innings of power, concentration and leadership, expertly paced throughout despite the oppressive conditions.

There was very little Sawbridgeworth could do once Walters found rhythm. Anything fractionally overpitched disappeared through the covers, while shorter deliveries were pulled dismissively into the leg side. At the other end, Ramanayake provided the perfect support act while also playing an innings of genuine quality in its own right. His 81 from 73 balls included six fours and two towering sixes as he punished tiring bowlers during the latter stages of the innings.

Sawbridgeworth skipper Matt Billings rotated his bowlers desperately searching for a breakthrough, but Hoddesdon’s dominance only intensified as the innings progressed. By the time Walters finally departed for 158 with the score on 295, the damage had largely been done. Todd Sturdy added a useful unbeaten 11 late on, while Will Steward chipped in with six as Hoddesdon eventually closed on a formidable 328-6 from their 50 overs.

Extras also played their part, Sawbridgeworth conceding 32 in total, including 25 wides as Hoddesdon’s relentless pressure forced mistakes in the heat. Kenny again impressed with 2-41 from seven overs, while Aziz claimed 2-46, but ultimately Sawbridgeworth spent much of the afternoon chasing leather under scorching skies as Hoddesdon’s batting line-up delivered one of the club’s finest innings in recent seasons. During the innings, ice packs, energy drinks, water bottles and wet towels became almost as important as bats and balls. Spectators searched desperately for shade while players from both teams visibly battled the conditions throughout the afternoon.

Still, Sawbridgeworth possessed enough batting quality to make things interesting.

Matt Doran came out aggressively in reply, striking 62 from 55 balls with 10 fours and two sixes as the hosts attempted to stay ahead of the required rate early on. Alongside Rehman Ahmed, who made an excellent 46, Sawbridgeworth briefly threatened to produce a dramatic chase. However, Hoddesdon’s bowling attack once again showed its depth and character. Joe Joyce was caught by James Mitchell Jr off the bowling of Himesh with the score on 45 and Harry Mason struck a major blow when he removed Doran lbw with the score on 133, before Ramanayake began to take complete control. Mason continued his impressive spell by dismissing Robert Sanders and Jack Plom.

Although Ahmed and Michael Burrell briefly kept Sawbridgeworth interested, Hoddesdon always seemed to have an answer whenever momentum threatened to shift. Ramanayake was outstanding with the ball, finishing with exceptional figures of 4-30 from his 10 overs, including a maiden. His variations, control and composure proved too much for Sawbridgeworth during the middle and latter stages of the innings. Mason was equally influential, claiming 4-42 from seven overs in another hugely important contribution.

Curtis chipped in with a wicket, Om Thakeria produced a smart run-out to remove Ahmed, and Andrew Lewis took an excellent catch as Hoddesdon maintained their standards in the field despite the draining heat. Sawbridgeworth eventually folded for 266 in 42 overs, with Charlie Mann becoming Ramanayake’s fourth victim as the visitors completed a superb all-round performance.

The result leaves Hoddesdon sitting proudly at the summit of the Championship Division table with 75 points from their opening three fixtures, five clear of North Mymms and now 16 ahead of Sawbridgeworth following this emphatic victory.

After the match, captain Rob Walters praised both the team performance and the spirit shown by the squad in incredibly difficult conditions.

“It was a brilliant win against a very good side,” said Walters.

“We knew before the game this was going to be a huge test because Sawbridgeworth had also started the season really well, and they’re always strong at home. The heat made it really tough for both teams, but I thought the lads handled it brilliantly all day. The energy in the field stayed high and the attitude was excellent throughout.”

Reflecting on his own innings, Walters was keen to focus attention on the collective effort.

“It was nice to spend some time in the middle and contribute, but the partnership with Himesh was probably the key moment in the game. He was outstanding again with both bat and ball and fully deserved the Green Jacket this week. Harry Mason also bowled superbly and there were contributions all over the side.”

Walters also praised the standards currently being set away from matchdays.

“The numbers at training have been excellent so far this season and that competition for places is massive for us. Selection was really tough again this week which is exactly what you want as captain. The challenge now is to keep standards high and keep improving because there’s still a very long way to go this season.”

There was also plenty of appreciation from the travelling Hoddesdon support, many of whom spent the afternoon melting gently around the boundary rope while enjoying one of the side’s most impressive away performances in recent memory. The victory felt significant. Not because trophies are won in May, but because performances like this reveal a great deal about a team’s potential. Against strong opposition, away from home, under brutal conditions and in a genuine top-of-the-table contest, Hoddesdon delivered with bat, ball and in the field. Walters produced an innings that will live long in the memory, Ramanayake once again proved why he is already becoming such an influential figure at Lowfield and collectively, Hoddesdon CC 1st XI continued to show exactly why they currently sit at the summit of the Championship Division.

Long may it continue.

#GreenMachine