PRESTON EDGE THRILLER AS WALTERS HITS ANOTHER TON

Hoddesdon CC 1st XI suffered their first league defeat of the 2026 season on Saturday afternoon, but Rob Walters’ side emerged from a pulsating run-fest at Preston with heads held high, 12 valuable points safely secured, and their position at the top of the HPCL Championship Division table still intact.

On another warm afternoon in Hertfordshire, Walters produced yet another monumental innings in the green-and-white colours, smashing a magnificent 124 as Hoddesdon piled up what looked to be a match-winning 319/5 from their 50 overs at The Recreation Ground. Yet cricket can be a gloriously cruel sport at times. Preston opener James Doherty responded with one of the finest innings seen in the division this season, carrying his bat through the entire chase with an extraordinary unbeaten 152 to guide the hosts home by two wickets with just eight balls remaining. It was a breathtaking contest between two strong sides, packed with quality batting, momentum swings, pressure moments and individual brilliance. And although Hoddesdon ultimately ended up on the wrong side of the result, there was little sense of disaster surrounding the visitors afterwards.

Far from it.

Against an in-form Preston side, away from home, missing several key players and facing a batter who simply refused to get out, Walters’ men still produced a hugely impressive display that underlined exactly why they remain genuine title contenders. The 12 points collected also ensured Hoddesdon stayed top of the Championship Division standings on 87 points, narrowly ahead of Sawbridgeworth on 84. Given everything thrown at them, it was a performance containing far more positives than negatives.

Preparations for the trip had already been disrupted before a ball was bowled. Spin wizard Harry Mason was unavailable after taking on best man duties at his brother’s wedding, while Todd Sturdy also missed the fixture. All-rounder Jamie Curtis was another absentee, attending Hoddesdon Town Youth Football Club’s presentation day, where the popular Curtis continues his outstanding work coaching one of the junior football sides. Their absences meant recalls for Asif Mohammed, Rob Jones and Johnny Munday, and despite the reshuffle Hoddesdon still produced an exceptional batting performance after Walters won the toss and elected to bat first.

The skipper’s decision initially looked an excellent one.

Usmaan Shafi immediately injected energy into the innings with a lively 17 from just 10 deliveries, crashing four boundaries before being run out attempting an aggressive second run. It was an early setback at 22/1, but Walters quickly settled into one of those innings that Hoddesdon supporters have become wonderfully accustomed to witnessing over the years. If there is one constant throughout modern Hoddesdon cricket history, it is Walters piling up colossal scores. Season after season. Year after year. Different formats, different attacks, different situations. And Saturday delivered another masterclass.

Alongside James Mitchell Jr, Walters calmly rebuilt the innings after the early wicket, gradually taking control against a Preston attack that had entered the game with strong bowling numbers behind them. Mitchell Jr again looked every inch the composed young cricketer Hoddesdon believe he can become, compiling an excellent 41 from 48 balls with eight boundaries. At the other end, Walters moved through the gears with trademark authority. His placement was immaculate. Anything over pitched disappeared through the covers. Anything short was pulled ferociously into the leg-side boundary. By drinks, Hoddesdon had moved strongly to 181/3 and Walters was already closing in on another century.

The skipper eventually reached three figures from 110 deliveries, a superb innings containing 13 fours and four towering sixes. It was yet another staggering contribution from the Hoddesdon captain and another reminder of the extraordinary consistency he has shown throughout his entire career at the club. Even opposition supporters applauded warmly.

Himesh Ramanayake then provided the perfect late-innings acceleration. The Sri Lankan overseas star blasted an entertaining 52 from just 47 balls, including three boundaries and three sixes, sharing an excellent stand with Rob Jones as Hoddesdon powered beyond 300. Jones himself added an unbeaten 25, while Will Steward chipped in with a quickfire 10 not out late in the innings. By the close, Hoddesdon had amassed an imposing 319/5 from their 50 overs. Given Preston’s bowling statistics entering the game, it felt a seriously strong total.

Walters later admitted he believed his side had enough runs on the board.

“We thought 319 was a really good score,” said the captain afterwards.

“On most days you’d expect that to be enough, especially away from home. The lads batted brilliantly. Jimmy Mitchell played really nicely again, Himesh gave us momentum at the end and obviously it was pleasing personally to spend some time out there. But sometimes in cricket you’ve just got to hold your hands up and credit the opposition.”

That opposition credit belongs overwhelmingly to Preston opener James Doherty. Quite simply, it was an astonishing innings.

Hoddesdon actually began superbly with the ball. Asif Mohammed removed Preston the dangerous captain Edward Wharton for 9 inside the opening overs before trapping Oscar Dunham Welch lbw shortly afterwards to leave the hosts wobbling at 19/2. Muhammad Hasan Ali then claimed the huge wicket of Joshua Wigginton for 63 after a dangerous partnership had begun rebuilding the innings.

At 159/3, the game remained beautifully poised.

Walters himself produced another important breakthrough when he trapped Jack Stevens lbw for 14, while Om Thakeria removed Anthony Ender to leave Preston 197/5. At that stage, Hoddesdon were firmly on top. Yet Doherty remained. Calm. Composed. Relentless. The Preston batter mixed patience with controlled aggression superbly, punishing anything loose while expertly farming the strike with the lower order. His innings gradually became something extraordinary.

Himesh Ramanayake continued battling hard for Hoddesdon and produced a magnificent spell late on, removing Jacob Williamson, William Gallimore and Omar Faleel in quick succession to finish with outstanding figures of 3/38 from his 10 overs. Those wickets gave Hoddesdon renewed hope at 278/8. But Doherty simply would not go away.

Supported by Peter Murrell at the other end, the Preston opener guided the hosts through the closing stages with remarkable composure before eventually sealing victory with eight balls remaining. His unbeaten 152 from 126 balls included 12 fours and seven sixes and was unquestionably the defining performance of the match. It was one of those innings where, ultimately, you simply have to applaud quality.

Walters certainly did.

“You have to give huge credit to Doherty,” he said.

“That was an unbelievable innings. He carried his bat, handled the pressure really well and took the game away from us. I honestly don’t think we bowled badly at all. The lads worked really hard in tough conditions and we kept fighting right until the end. Sometimes you just get beaten by a special knock.”

Special knocks are the sort of currency that Walters himself has been dealing in for many years now, and all to often rival teams have had to stand back and simply doth their cap at the sight of Walters exploding through the gears with bat in hand. This time, however, it was Hoddesdon's turn to stand back and admire.

Indeed, Hoddesdon’s bowlers deserved considerable praise despite the defeat. Ramanayake’s 3/38 was excellent. Asif Mohammed returned strongly to the side with 2/77 and struck important early blows. Muhammad Hasan Ali claimed 1/35 and bowled with good discipline during key middle overs. Walters himself delivered a full 10-over spell and picked up 1/54, while Om Thakeria battled hard for 1/61. Even James Mitchell Jr was thrown into the attack and contributed useful overs as Hoddesdon desperately searched for a breakthrough.

Importantly too, Hoddesdon never allowed the game to drift completely away from them despite Doherty’s brilliance. Every wicket reignited belief. Every dot ball built pressure. Every boundary was answered with renewed effort. That resilience remains hugely encouraging moving forward. There were also several moments throughout the chase where Hoddesdon still looked favourites. At 197/5 the visitors had genuine control. At 278/8 they sensed victory again. But Preston held their nerve.

And in truth, any side chasing 320 deserves enormous credit. The result means Hoddesdon’s unbeaten start to the league season is over, but there is absolutely no sense of panic inside the camp. Far from it. The visitors collected 12 points from the fixture, remain top of the table and once again demonstrated the immense batting firepower available throughout the side. Their total of 319 would comfortably win most games in this division.

Just not this one.

Saturday also reinforced the impressive character already developing within Walters’ squad. Missing key personnel, playing away from home, defending a huge total and still pushing the game to the final eight deliveries against a batter producing the innings of his life is hardly cause for doom and gloom. If anything, it highlighted how competitive this Hoddesdon side remains regardless of circumstance. And with Walters continuing to produce astonishing contributions with the bat, confidence inside the dressing room remains extremely high.

After four matches, Hoddesdon sit proudly at the summit of the Championship Division on 87 points. The defeat may sting slightly given how close they came. But there are defeats… and then there are performances that still strengthen belief. This firmly belonged in the latter category.

PRESTON CC, HERTS 1ST XI – 322/8 (48.4 overs)

James Doherty 152* (126)
Joshua Wigginton 63 (73)
Jacob Williamson 38 (40)

Himesh Ramanayake 3/38
Asif Mohammed 2/77
Muhammad Hasan Ali 1/35
Rob Walters 1/54
Om Thakeria 1/61

HODDESDON CC 1ST XI – 319/5 (50 overs)

Rob Walters 124 (121)
Himesh Ramanayake 52 (47)
James Mitchell Jr 41 (48)
Rob Jones 25* (30)

Edward Wharton 2/65
Joshua Wigginton 1/49
Peter Murrell 1/42

Result: Preston CC, Herts won by 2 wickets.

Championship Division Table:

Hoddesdon CC – 87 pts
Sawbridgeworth CC – 84 pts
Luton Town & Indians CC – 77 pts
North Mymms CC – 77 pts
Welwyn Garden City CC – 63 pts
Preston CC, Herts – 60 pts

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