MATCH REPORT: HODDESDON CC 1ST XI 278-8 LOST TO NORTH MYMMS CC 1ST XI 279-6

Ramanayake shines and Mason strikes four, but leaders edge Lowfield thriller

Hoddesdon's first team produced another spirited display against Championship Division leaders North Mymms on Saturday, but despite posting an imposing 278-8 and pushing the visitors all the way, they were ultimately edged out by four wickets in another absorbing contest at a sun-drenched Lowfield. For the second consecutive weekend, Rob Walters' side walked away wondering quite how they had finished on the wrong side of the result. Just seven days after losing by three wickets at Shenley Village, Hoddesdon once again gave one of the division's strongest sides an almighty scare before North Mymms' quality eventually told with one over to spare.

It was another afternoon played under relentless sunshine as England's remarkable spell of hot weather continued unabated. Temperatures again climbed well into the low thirties with barely a cloud in the sky and little respite for either side over the course of a demanding day's cricket. Although defeat sees Hoddesdon slip from fourth to sixth in the Championship Division standings on 148 points, the performance itself suggested they remain more than capable of competing with the very best teams in the league. North Mymms strengthened their grip on top spot with 202 points after nine matches, but they were made to work for every single one of their 30 points.

The Updated League Table

Having won the toss, captain Rob Walters had no hesitation in electing to bat first on what looked another excellent Lowfield surface. The innings began steadily rather than spectacularly as Walters and Usmaan Shafi negotiated the new ball against one of the division's strongest bowling attacks. Their opening stand of 82 laid a solid platform, with Walters producing another composed contribution of 41 from 63 deliveries, striking eight boundaries before falling to Arnav Pimple. Shafi looked in similarly fluent touch, combining sensible shot selection with his trademark aggression whenever the bowlers strayed. His 41 from 66 balls included four boundaries and two towering sixes before he was caught off Neharen Inpan shortly after the score had passed three figures.

Those two dismissals briefly shifted momentum towards the visitors, and when James Mitchell Jr was caught and bowled by Dharmarajsinh Jhala for a patient 24 before Todd Sturdy departed for nine, Hoddesdon had slipped from a promising 101-1 to 146-4. At that stage, North Mymms sensed an opportunity to restrict the home side to something considerably below par.

Instead, Himesh Ramanayake once again demonstrated exactly why he has become one of the Championship's standout overseas performers.

Calm, measured and seemingly unflustered by the occasion, Ramanayake gradually wrestled control back in Hoddesdon's favour. His beautifully constructed unbeaten 90 came from just 93 deliveries and featured eight crisp boundaries alongside three towering sixes, with his timing becoming increasingly impressive as the innings developed. Supported initially by Rob Jones, then Johnny Munday, before Andrew Lewis added a valuable 26 from only 21 balls late in the innings, Ramanayake ensured Hoddesdon continued to accelerate through the closing overs. Although wickets continued to fall around him, he remained composed throughout, expertly farming the strike before launching a late assault that carried Hoddesdon beyond the 275-mark.

It Was A Superb Knock From Ramanayake

By the time the innings closed on 278-8 from their allotted 60 overs, the home dressing room could be justifiably pleased with their efforts. Against a bowling attack boasting league-leading wicket-taker Dharmarajsinh Jhala, alongside Yuvresh Malhotra and Rhys Wynne, reaching 278 represented an outstanding effort. Yuvresh Malhotra proved North Mymms' most economical bowler, claiming 2-79 from his 20 overs, while Pimple also picked up two wickets. Extras again played their part, contributing 19 runs, but Hoddesdon's batsmen deserved enormous credit for setting what looked a genuinely competitive target.

Captain Rob Walters was pleased with the platform his side had created.

"We felt 278 was a very good score against a bowling attack of that quality. The lads batted with real discipline, Himesh was outstanding again and everyone made contributions at important moments. You always know North Mymms will come hard because they're top for a reason, but we believed we had enough runs on the board to really put them under pressure."

If Hoddesdon needed the perfect start with the ball, Harry Mason delivered exactly that.

The experienced spinner struck in just the second over, removing Guganeshan Muralitharan without scoring to reduce the visitors to 8-1 and immediately energise the sizeable Lowfield crowd. Unfortunately for Hoddesdon, that early breakthrough merely brought together the two men who would ultimately decide the contest. Dan Waite, already boasting a century this season, played one of the finest innings seen at Lowfield this summer. His explosive 102 from only 71 deliveries contained twelve fours and six sixes, punishing anything fractionally off line as he launched an aggressive counter-attack. Alongside him, Jakob Bhula produced the perfect supporting role. While Waite dominated the scoring early, Bhula anchored the innings superbly before accelerating later to finish unbeaten on 109 from 126 balls, striking thirteen boundaries and a six in an innings full of composure and maturity.

Four Wickets Were The Reward For Harry Mason's 20 Overs

Their second-wicket partnership transformed the complexion of the match. From 8-1 they advanced to 175 before Mason finally broke through again, dismissing Waite just after he had reached his deserved century. It was a huge moment that briefly swung belief back towards Hoddesdon.

The home side refused to surrender.

Om Thakeria produced an excellent piece of work to remove captain Nesan Jeyaratna, caught and bowled, for 12, while Mason continued his outstanding afternoon by dismissing Armaan Randhawa and Dharmarajsinh Jhala in quick succession. Himesh Ramanayake also deserved considerable praise with the ball, producing another economical spell of 11 overs that yielded figures of 1-44. His dismissal of wicketkeeper Richard Soulsby further raised hopes that Hoddesdon might yet snatch an unlikely victory.

At 263-5, the visitors were suddenly wobbling.

However, league leaders often find different ways to win cricket matches, and North Mymms demonstrated precisely why they currently occupy top spot. Bhula remained calm amid the pressure, refusing to panic as wickets fell around him. Supported by the unbeaten Yuvresh Malhotra, who finished on one not out, he guided North Mymms home with four wickets remaining after 49 overs. Mason's final figures of 4-113 scarcely reflected how well he bowled. On another day, his relentless effort could easily have delivered a match-winning spell.

Walters was quick to praise both Mason and Ramanayake after the game.

Despite Defeat, Rob Walters Had Plenty Of Praise For His Team

"Harry was magnificent. Four wickets against arguably the strongest batting side in the division tells its own story. He never stopped competing, even when Waite and Bhula were putting together that partnership. Himesh just keeps producing performances. Ninety not out, then coming back to bowl with great control in that heat... he's been exceptional for us since arriving and fully deserved all the applause he received afterwards."

The result inevitably dents Hoddesdon's title aspirations, with North Mymms now opening a commanding lead at the summit. Sawbridgeworth remain second on 186 points, while Shenley Village climb to third after their own victory. Hoddesdon now sit sixth on 148 points, although the table remains remarkably congested, with only seven points separating third from sixth. There is therefore still everything to play for over the second half of the campaign.

Chairman Ian Munday was keen to focus on the positives despite another narrow defeat.

"Of course everyone is disappointed because we've come incredibly close against two outstanding sides in consecutive weeks, but there are far more positives than negatives. We're playing some excellent cricket and we're proving we belong among the strongest teams in this division. You only have to look at the quality of individual performances. Himesh was outstanding again, Harry led the bowling attack superbly, Rob continues to captain with confidence and there was tremendous fight right until the very end. Keep producing performances like that and the results will come."

While the points ultimately travelled back to North Mymms, Hoddesdon left the field with plenty of encouragement.

Back-to-back defeats by margins of three wickets and four wickets against two genuine promotion contenders underline just how competitive this side has become. Fine margins have gone against them over the past fortnight, but if Saturday proved anything, it is that Rob Walters' men possess the talent, resilience and belief to challenge anybody in the Championship Division.

With plenty of cricket still remaining this summer, Hoddesdon will be determined to turn those encouraging performances into victories as they look to climb back towards the division's leading pack.

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