There are hot days in cricket—and then there’s whatever inferno the Hoddesdon 2nd XI walked into at Lucas Lane on Saturday afternoon. As temperatures soared past 30°C and suncream became the team’s most important all-rounder, Hitchin’s bowlers turned up the heat in more ways than one, skittling Adrian Lee’s men for 114 before chasing it down with minimum fuss.

It was a match that began with optimism, included a few glimmers of resistance, and ended with a scorched scorebook and five ducks next to green-helmeted names. A tough day, yes—but there were moments worth remembering amid the ruins.

TOSS AND TEMPERATURES: THE FLIP THAT STUNG
At the toss, Hitchin’s skipper made what would prove to be a game-defining decision: to bowl first. With the mercury climbing and no cloud in sight, Adrian Lee’s side had barely finished lacing their spikes before being told they were to pad up. It was too hot to warm up outside, so the Hoddesdon 2nd XI turned to the sacred art of ‘One Hand, One Bounce’ in the changing room—a childhood classic that usually foreshadows sunny fun rather than sunburn and sorrow.

Unfortunately, this round of schoolboy skullduggery was as close as Hoddesdon’s top order came to meaningful time at the crease.

LEE LEADS WHILE WICKETS TUMBLE
Adrian Lee opened the batting alongside Freddie Hawkins and quickly realised that batting in a sauna had its complications. Hitchin’s opening bowlers—particularly Duncan Howells and Jamie Timms—found their rhythm early, and the Hoddesdon innings never quite got off the starting blocks. The early casualty was Hawkins, dismissed for 20 after holding things together for 40 balls. Lee, ever the defiant general, knuckled down and set about orchestrating what he hoped would be a patient rebuild. But the middle order melted around him like a choc ice in a bonfire.

Phil Stafford, Tyrone Mazarura, Rocco Cuffaro and Greg Marsh all fell in a cluster, all within just 18 runs of each other. The scoreboard stuttered from 78-2 to 96-6, then to 113-9, as wickets tumbled like heat-struck deckchairs. In all, five Hoddesdon batters recorded ducks—a statistic that would sting on any Saturday, let alone one where your whites end up soaking through with effort and despair.

SKIPPER'S SALVAGE MISSION
Through it all, Lee stood firm. His knock of 36 from 61 balls, including six crisply struck boundaries, was a study in resilience, if not fluent elegance. It wasn’t his most dynamic innings, but it was exactly what his side needed—calm in the chaos, experience under pressure, and a willingness to grind in brutal heat.

He found brief support in Rob Harcombe, whose 25-run contribution from the lower middle order provided a late flurry of hope. But it was ultimately fleeting, as the innings ended with a tame whimper at 114 all out in 37.5 overs.

Hitchin’s bowlers were superb throughout. Simon Bayston was the standout, collecting 5 for 7 in a spell that can only be described as demonic. Timms chipped in with 3 for 23, and Howells added 2 for 14—but this was a team effort, as tight lines and relentless pressure yielded spectacular returns.

CHASING IN CRUISE CONTROL
Despite the modest total, Hoddesdon came out to field with spirit. The sun, by now high and punishing, had turned the outfield into a dustbowl. Still, there was belief, and with an energetic bowling unit, they set about defending their meagre total with intent.

It began promisingly. Charlie Tackley, who continues to grow into a reliable option, removed Gurdeep Jandu and Luke Day early on, ending with 2 for 33 from his 6 overs. He was backed up well by Greg Marsh (1 for 14) and the ever-tricky Rob Harcombe, whose 5-over spell returned 1 for 15.

There were murmurs of a miracle when Hitchin stuttered at 75 for 5, but those dreams were snuffed out quickly.

Steven Flint, Hitchin’s middle-order rock, steadied proceedings with an authoritative 46 not out off 48 balls, ensuring no panic infected the run chase. He timed the ball beautifully and refused to be rattled, even as wickets fell at the other end. David Moore stuck around with him, nudging Hitchin over the line in 23.3 overs with wickets in hand.

BAYSTON’S BLITZ AND HODDY HEARTBREAK
The name on everyone’s lips at stumps was Simon Bayston. His five-wicket haul tore the guts out of the Hoddesdon innings, and his consistent accuracy ensured there were no freebies. He hit the top of off with mechanical precision and cleaned up the tail in a spell that defined the match.

For Hoddesdon, it was a day to forget—but one from which lessons will no doubt be drawn. In many ways, it wasn’t about tactics or selection or strategy. It was simply about execution—something Hitchin delivered in spades.

CAPTAIN LEE: NO COUP, JUST CRICKET
In the post-match huddle, there were no thrown bats or scathing rebukes. Captain Adrian Lee, whose leadership remains steadfast in stormy seas, took the defeat on the chin.

When asked his thoughts after a fifth defeat in six games, Lee remained unnerved.

“Talk of my resignation is greatly exaggerated,” he smirked. “I’ve had longer nets than some of our innings lately, but the boys are behind me. Probably. At least until next Saturday.”

Jokes aside, Lee’s focus is clear. There’s no time to dwell—not in a league as competitive as HPCL Division 4A. 'Animal' refuses to allow the bumps in the road define the journey and continues to go about his task with admirable determination, and that is to be a pplauded.Hoddesdon currently sit 8th in the table on 110 points, while Hitchin's win elevated them to 2nd with 192 points, keeping pressure on league leaders Northwood Town.

POSITIVES TO BUILD ON
Despite the result, there were a few positives worth pocketing:

• Lee’s return to runs was timely. The captain’s innings was measured and mature.
• Tackley’s wickets offered another glimpse of a young bowler learning fast.
• Harcombe’s dual role—a tight spell with the ball and gritty lower-order runs—underlined his value.
• The bowling unit, as a whole, showed resilience under pressure and nearly clawed Hoddesdon back into contention.

STATS AT A GLANCE
Hoddesdon 2nd XI Batting
Adrian Lee – 36 (61 balls, 6x4)
Rob Harcombe – 25 (45 balls, 5x4)
Freddie Hawkins – 20 (40 balls, 3x4)

Simon Bayston (Hitchin) – 5 for 7

Hoddesdon 2nd XI Bowling
Charlie Tackley – 6-0-33-2
Rob Harcombe – 5-1-15-1
Greg Marsh – 3-0-14-1

Hitchin CC Batting
Steven Flint – 46* (48 balls, 10x4)
Chris Malan – 24 (27 balls, 3x4)

WHAT’S NEXT FOR HODDY?
Hoddesdon head into July needing answers, and fast. While the default awarded win over Old Haberdashers last week was useful for points, it papered over form that has been fragile since mid-May. The next round presents another opportunity—and possibly a turning point. Lee and his men need more than just resistance; they need momentum. The team spirit remains strong. The belief hasn’t wavered. The squad know that performances like this must be the exception, not the norm, if they are to climb the table and finish the season with heads held high. A return to Lowfield on Saturday to host 6th placed Harpenden 3rd XI provides a quick turnaround and the chance to go again and out things right.

FINAL WORD
Cricket is a cruel game sometimes. On a day when even your sunblock gave up, Hoddesdon’s effort with bat and ball never quite clicked in unison. Hitchin were sharper, smarter, and ultimately superior on a red-hot Saturday in Hertfordshire.

But in this sport, there’s always next week. Adrian Lee’s side will regroup. They'll reload. And when they do, expect fire—not just from the skies above—but from a team hungry to remind this league of what they can really do.

Always another toss. Always another chance.

#Green Machine