WALTERS AND HIMESH END PRESTON HOODOO IN STYLE

Hoddesdon Cricket Club’s First XI swept aside Preston CC, Herts by seven wickets at Lowfield on Saturday, producing one of their most complete performances of the season to end a long and frustrating sequence against their Championship Division rivals. Himesh Ramanayake claimed a magnificent seven wickets before captain Rob Walters struck a commanding century, as Hoddesdon chased 269 with 71 balls to spare on a warm afternoon.

The comprehensive victory was worth the full 30 points and lifted Hoddesdon back into sixth place in the table, four points clear of Dunstable Town. More significantly, it ended a Preston hoodoo which had seen Walters’ side lose their previous seven or eight meetings with the Hertfordshire club over recent seasons, including a remarkable two-wicket defeat earlier this summer. That May contest had seen Hoddesdon post 319 for five, only for Preston to chase the target through James Doherty’s unbeaten 152. There would be no repeat at Lowfield, however, as the hosts controlled most of Saturday’s game and finally applied a decisive full stop to one of their least enjoyable recent rivalries.

“It feels very good to get that one,” admitted Walters. “Preston have had the better of us far too often over the last few years, and even when we have played well against them, they have somehow found a way to win. We spoke before the game about not carrying any of that baggage with us, but there is definitely some satisfaction in finally beating them and doing it with such a strong performance.”

Preston won the toss and chose to bat in conditions which initially appeared ideal for building a substantial first-innings total. Edward Wharton and Doherty provided the visitors with a confident beginning, putting together 69 for the opening wicket and reaching 50 inside nine overs. Wharton was particularly fluent, striking nine fours and three sixes during an attacking 69 from 64 deliveries. Doherty, who had inflicted so much damage on Hoddesdon earlier in the season, also looked threatening as he made 33 from 31 balls with seven boundaries. The match changed when Himesh was introduced and quickly began to exert his influence. Doherty was caught by wicketkeeper Gagan Dissanayake, before Wharton’s fine innings was ended when James Mitchell held a chance from the same bowler, leaving Preston 128 for two.

What followed was an extraordinary period in which Himesh tore through the heart of the visitors’ batting order. Joshua Wigginton and captain Eden Scott were both dismissed without scoring, while Jake George made 22 before he too became part of the Ramanayake procession. Preston slid from 128 for one to 136 for five, with Himesh accounting for every wicket during a spell which completely altered the tone of the afternoon. His control, subtle changes of pace and ability to consistently threaten both edges left Preston fighting to rebuild rather than setting up a declaration.

“It was an exceptional spell from Himesh,” said Walters. “The pitch was not doing everything for him, so he had to work batters out and keep asking questions. Once he found his rhythm, he was relentless, and seven wickets in a Championship Division game is an outstanding return.”

Peter Williamson attempted to repair the damage with a determined 37 from 78 balls. He shared useful stands with Jacob Williamson and Anthony Ender, but Himesh continued to strike, removing Jacob for three and Ender for ten to complete a superb seven-wicket haul. Himesh finished with seven for 69 from 20 overs, conceding just 3.45 runs per over across a long and demanding spell. It was a performance of both skill and stamina, particularly in warm conditions that tested players throughout the afternoon. James Curtis provided excellent support from the opposite end, delivering 20 overs for only 63 runs. Although he went without a wicket, Curtis conceded just 3.15 an over and helped create the pressure from which Himesh repeatedly profited.

Himesh Took Seven Wickets In A Sensational Spell Of Bowling

Om Thakeria claimed the other bowler’s wicket, removing Peter Williamson caught and bowled, and completed ten overs for 41 runs. Charlie Tackley and Walters shared the remaining ten overs, while the fielding unit contributed a late run-out when Omar Faleel was dismissed after an enterprising 25 from 18 balls. Daniel Plumb’s unbeaten 49 ensured Preston recovered from 211 for eight to reach a competitive 268 for nine from their 60 overs. His patient innings contained three fours and two sixes, and his late resistance gave the visitors something to defend despite Himesh’s brilliance.

Preston had undoubtedly recovered well, but 268 looked considerably less imposing once Walters and Usmaan Shafi began Hoddesdon’s reply. The pair produced a superb opening partnership of 127, combining Walters’ controlled accumulation with Shafi’s aggressive stroke play. Shafi set the early tempo, reaching 50 from 49 deliveries and putting Preston’s attack under immediate pressure. His eventual 75 came from only 64 balls and included ten fours and four sixes, giving Hoddesdon the momentum required to remain well ahead of the asking rate. Walters was content to play the longer innings, although he punished anything loose and struck boundaries regularly on both sides of the wicket. He passed 50 from 79 balls, having struck eight fours, and continued to build steadily as those around him increased the tempo.

Usmaan Shafi Helped Lay The Foundations

“Usmaan was outstanding and gave us exactly the start we needed,” Walters explained. “He played positively without being reckless, and every time Preston looked as though they might build pressure, he found a boundary. A stand of 127 took a huge amount of tension out of the chase.”

Shafi was eventually dismissed by Doherty, caught by Eden Scott, but Hoddesdon had already placed themselves in a commanding position. James Curtis joined Walters and added another 57 for the second wicket, ensuring the innings never became bogged down following the breakthrough. Curtis contributed 27 from 29 balls, striking four boundaries and rotating the strike intelligently. His dismissal, trapped leg before wicket by Doherty, brought Mitchell to the crease with Hoddesdon needing 85 runs and possessing plenty of time to complete the job. Walters reached his hundred from 135 balls, the landmark greeted warmly by teammates and supporters around Lowfield. His innings eventually ended at 111 from 150 deliveries, with Luke Marsden claiming the wicket after the Hoddesdon captain had struck 17 fours and carried his team to within six runs of victory. It was Walters’ fourth century of a prolific campaign and provided further evidence of his outstanding consistency at the top of the order. His combination of patience and authority allowed Hoddesdon to dictate the chase without ever being dragged into an unnecessary scramble.

Walters Bagged His Fourth Ton Of The Season

Mitchell made certain that there would be no late drama, finishing unbeaten on 43 from 40 balls with seven fours. Himesh joined him for the final moments and was one not out as Hoddesdon reached 269 for three from 48.1 overs.

“It was nice to contribute, but the best part was how calm the chase felt throughout,” said Walters. “Usmaan was brilliant, Curtis played a really useful innings and Mitch finished it off with real authority. We did not leave it to one player, even though Himesh’s seven wickets obviously gave us the platform.”

Doherty was Preston’s most successful bowler with two for 52 from ten overs, while Marsden collected one for 42. Edward Wharton bowled economically without reward, but Preston were unable to make sufficient inroads after Hoddesdon’s opening pair had dominated the first half of the chase.

The victory moved Hoddesdon to 206 points from 13 matches, with a record of five wins, five defeats and two losing draws. They climbed above Dunstable, who sit seventh on 202 points, while fifth-placed Welwyn Garden City are only seven points further ahead on 213. Luton Town & Indians and Shenley Village share third place on 236 points, with Sawbridgeworth second on 261. North Mymms continue to dominate the division with 322 points, while Preston remain at the foot of the table on 121 after suffering their ninth defeat.

Hoddesdon Occupy 6th Place In The Championship Division

The margin of victory offered an emphatic response to the recent narrow losses and frustrating results which had pushed Hoddesdon into the bottom half. Walters’ side now have the opportunity to build momentum over the closing stages of the campaign and challenge the cluster of teams immediately above them. Himesh and Walters were understandably strong contenders for the weekend’s Green Jacket after producing seven wickets and a century respectively. On most Saturdays either performance would have been sufficient, but both were narrowly beaten by Reece Jones following his superb display for the Third XI in their home victory over Letchworth Garden City.

“Himesh was the standout candidate fin our game, but Reece fully deserved it,” Walters said. “To have three performances of that level across two teams is exactly what the club wants. The First XI won, the Third XI won and there was a real buzz around Lowfield afterwards.”

That atmosphere continued long after the final run had been scored, with players, supporters and families gathering inside the clubhouse for Hoddesdon’s annual Race Night. The event proved a superb way to round off a memorable day, with plenty of celebrations following victories for both the First and Third XIs.

After weeks in which fine margins had repeatedly gone against them, Hoddesdon finally enjoyed an afternoon when the major moments fell firmly in their favour. Himesh supplied the destructive spell, Shafi provided the early acceleration and Walters completed the centrepiece innings, as the Preston hoodoo was ended emphatically beneath the Lowfield sunshine.

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