Hoddesdon 2nd XI (235-7) beat Sandridge 1st XI (204 all out) by 31 runs
Saturday 10 May 2025
Lowfield
HPCL Division 4A

It was a baking hot afternoon at Lowfield as Hoddesdon 2nd XI began their league campaign in the Hertfordshire Premier Cricket League Division 4A with a spirited and disciplined 31-run win over Sandridge 1st XI.

Skipper Adrian Lee won the toss and made no hesitation in choosing to bat first on a surface that looked firm and inviting for stroke play – a decision that would ultimately prove decisive. With both sides eager to stamp their authority early in the season, this clash between Hoddesdon’s second string and Sandridge’s firsts lived up to its billing. The game saw a fine blend of grit, flare, collapses, recoveries, and two innings-defining knocks from Hoddesdon’s Phil Stafford and Sandridge’s Duncan Ferguson.

Opening Struggles and Middle Order Firepower
Hoddesdon’s innings got off to a faltering start, as both openers were dismissed within the first 13 overs. Bilal Ahmad (17 from 36 balls) showed early intent with a couple of crisp boundaries but was caughtoff the bowling of Naseer Ahmed, having failed to convert his start. Captain Adrian Lee (4 from 14) had earlier departed in the 5th over, again, bowled by Naseer, leaving Hoddesdon at a wobbly 13-1. Speaking after the game, Lee commented "Left arm over, pitched outside off, nipped back and cut me in half and got top of leg! Nothing I could have done and that would bowl me out ten out of ten times!"

The early pressure was compounded when Tyone Mazarura (24) – who had struck some elegant drives in his 36-ball stay – fell just as he looked set, caught off the bowling of Murphy with the score on 56. At that point, the hosts were in danger of falling into disarray, but Phil Stafford had other ideas.

The experienced batter constructed the innings of the day: a superb 69 from 84 balls, laced with 12 boundaries and a six. His powerful hitting square of the wicket, combined with soft hands in defence, made life difficult for Sandridge’s attack. Stafford’s tempo lifted the innings through the middle overs, and he forged a vital 90-run stand with the enterprising Rocco Cuffaro (38 off 49), who supported the cause with composed strokeplay before falling LBW with the score on 146.

When Stafford finally holed out for 69 with the total on 158, it triggered another minor collapse as Rob Harcombe was bowled for 1 just three runs later. But just as Sandridge sensed a chance to contain the hosts under 200, Louis Purves counter-attacked.

Purves Pushes Hoddesdon Past 230
Purves’ unbeaten 43 from 38 deliveries was full of intent and confidence. Driving fluently and rotating the strike with ease, he took the attack to Sandridge's tiring bowlers, notably taking advantage of errant lengths from Atif Zubair and Asif Ahmad. A key cameo from Asif Mohammed (16) and a handy 11 from Oliver Maughan helped boost Hoddesdon’s tally as Purves marshalled the lower order.

Sandridge’s bowlers worked tirelessly on an increasingly placid wicket. Hayat returned the best figures with 3-32 from his 10 overs, picking up three of the top six, while Naseer Ahmed (2-30 from 10) was miserly with his pace off the ball. Despite that, Hoddesdon closed on a highly competitive 235 for 7 from their 50 overs – a total that looked just above par given the conditions on offer.

Sandridge's Response Stutters Early
Sandridge’s reply began with a flourish but was quickly derailed. After a bright start, opener Zahir Ahmad fell for 4, bowled by Rob Harcombe. That early loss brought in the in-form Asif Ahmad, and he rallied to put on a valuable 41 for the visitors.

Hoddesdon however sensed an opening, and when Ahtisham Khan – so effective with the ball – departed for a duck off the bowling of Maughn after a five-ball stay, the visitors were struggling at 83 for 3.

But Duncan Ferguson stood tall.

Ferguson Fights as Sandridge Rebuild
Ferguson’s 62 from 90 balls was the cornerstone of Sandridge’s innings. The wicket keeper held things together through the middle, playing sensibly and punishing anything overpitched. His partnership with Thomas Evans (41 from 62) was the most substantial of the innings, adding 61 runs and threatening to drag Sandridge back into the contest.

However, just as the momentum was shifting, Hoddesdon struck back. Freddie Webb removed Mozaimml Hayat (30 off 28) with a clever change of pace allowing Harcombe to grab the catch. As the pressure mounted, wickets began to tumble.

From 181-6, Sandridge’s last four wickets fell for just 23 runs.

Freddie Webb’s Six-Fer Seals the Deal
The star of the bowling effort was young Freddie Webb, who turned the game with a devastating 8.5-over spell that yielded six wickets for just 30 runs. Coming on at a crucial time with Sandridge looking to accelerate, Webb varied his pace cleverly and showed maturity well beyond his years. He accounted for the dangerous Thomas Evans, Hayat, Thomas Townend, John Murphy, and Naseer Ahmed in quick succession, before polishing off the tail with wicket of Gurdeep Sran to seal the victory. Each dismissal carried its own merit but it was Webb’s consistency and calmness under pressure that stood out. It also rather overshadowed an excellent effort from Ollie Maughn, who grabbed himself a pair of wickets too and should be remembered as a crucial component of the victory.

And whilst Cuffaro and Mohammed both finished out of the wickets, their contributions should also be recognised.

Captain's Comments
After the game, Hoddesdon skipper Adrian Lee praised his side’s character:

“We knew 235 was a defendable score, but Sandridge have a deep batting lineup, so we had to be disciplined. The lads showed real maturity with the ball. Phil (Stafford) and Louis (Purves) were excellent with the bat. I am just gutted that I got an absolute unplayable jaffa and couldn't contribute more with the bat myself. And Freddie was superb today, a real match-winning performance.”

Indeed, after the game, Freddie went on to win the coveted Green Jacket Award, and you can read all about that by clicking HERE.

Score Summary
Hoddesdon 2nd XI Innings: 235-7 (50 overs)
Phil Stafford 69 (84), Louis Purves 43* (38), Rocco Cuffaro 38 (49)

Sandridge 1st XI Innings: 204 all out (46.5 overs)
Duncan Ferguson 62 (90), Thomas Evans 41 (62), Mozaimml Hayat 30 (28)
Freddie Webb 6-30
Oliver Maughan 2-30
Charlie Tackley 1-47
Rob Harcombe 1-36

You can view the full scorecard by clicking HERE.

Points and Table Impact
The win sees Hoddesdon collect a full 30 points, taking them up the early Division 4A standings to third place and building momentum ahead of a tough run of fixtures. Sandridge pick up 14 points for their batting and bowling efforts but will rue the middle-order collapse and missed fielding chances that let the hosts off the hook.

Player of the Match: Freddie Webb
In a game that had several standout contributions, it was Freddie Webb who turned heads and sealed the deal. His figures of 6-30 not only dismantled the Sandridge tail but also arrived at a moment when the match was hanging in the balance. At such a young age, his control and wicket-taking instincts offer a glimpse of a bright future.

Looking Ahead
Hoddesdon 2nd XI travel away to Hatfield Crusadersnext weekend with growing confidence. The team’s all-round performance – led by Phil Stafford’s batting heroics, Purves’ cool finishing, and Webb’s lethal late spell – sets a solid tone for the season ahead. With strong squad depth, energy in the field, and a captain willing to back youth, Hoddesdon’s second string look ready to challenge for promotion. If they continue to produce balanced performances like this one, Division 4A may yet see another title tilt from the Lowfield outfit.

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