Hoddesdon CC 2nd XI fall short in tough away day at Kings Langley

Saturday 9 August 2025 saw Hoddesdon Cricket Club’s 2nd XI make the trip to Kings Langley for a pivotal HPCL Division 4A clash. With the season heading into its decisive stages, every result now carries added weight—particularly for Hoddesdon, who arrived ninth in the standings, locked in a relegation battle. Kings Langley, sitting sixth, were seeking to consolidate their mid-table position and keep pressure on the teams above.

Adrian Lee again took the captaincy reins for Hoddesdon, and the squad included a significant change from recent weeks. Dan Hawkins, the club’s 3rd XI captain, earned a deserved call-up to the 2nd XI after a string of impressive performances this season. It proved to be an inspired selection, with Hawkins going on to win the coveted Green Jacket award for his composed innings in the run chase.

First Innings – Kings Langley set the tone through Sills’ century
Kings Langley won the toss and chose to bat first. That decision was vindicated almost immediately, as their openers took control from the outset on a batting-friendly wicket.

The innings revolved around one dominant performance—Oliver Sills. The opener launched a blistering assault on the Hoddesdon attack, reaching a superb 108 from just 70 balls, peppered with 11 fours and 5 sixes. His strike rate of 154.3 underlined how aggressively he took on the bowlers, seizing momentum and ensuring Kings Langley dictated terms from ball one.

He found solid support in Rahul Aggarwal, who struck 35 from 40 balls, and later Chrishan Luchmaya-Casey, who added 37 from 40 deliveries. Those contributions ensured the scoring rate stayed high even after the initial breakthrough.

Despite the challenges, Hoddesdon’s bowlers kept plugging away. Freddie Webb was outstanding, claiming 5 wickets for 61 from his 10 overs—a performance that ripped through the Kings Langley middle order and prevented an even bigger total. Oliver Maughan (2-42 from 6 overs) struck twice, while Dan Billson (1-47) and Barney Heard (2-33) chipped in with key wickets.

There was also a disciplined spell from Roly Heard, who bowled 5 overs for just 32 runs and claimed a maiden, and Adrian Lee, who was tidy in his 2-over stint, conceding only 13 runs.

The hosts’ tail continued to wag, however. Edward Thackeray (27 from 30) and Meet Agrawal (23 not out from 18) played valuable late cameos, pushing Kings Langley to a formidable 299 all out in 43.5 overs. The total looked imposing, particularly given the scoreboard pressure it would place on Hoddesdon’s chase.

Second Innings – Early losses, Hawkins holds firm
If Hoddesdon were to mount a successful chase, they needed a strong start. Instead, the reply began in disastrous fashion.

Freddie Hawkins fell for a duck in just the second ball he faced, caught by Chethan Dulmina off Meet Agrawal, and moments later Barney Heard was bowled by Oliver Sills without scoring. At 6-2, the visitors were immediately on the back foot.

The innings steadied thanks to a third-wicket partnership between Phil Stafford and Bilal Ahmad. Ahmad, patient and watchful, ground out 25 from 59 deliveries with 3 boundaries, providing the glue while Stafford attacked from the other end. Stafford played fluently for his 49 from 51 balls, finding the rope 10 times and giving Hoddesdon hope of a recovery. But when both fell within the space of two runs—Ahmad bowled by Maxim Cranmer Brown and Stafford caught off the same bowler—the score lurched from 89-2 to 90-4.

That brought Dan Hawkins to the crease. Walking in under pressure, the 3rd XI skipper demonstrated exactly why he had been promoted. Mixing sensible shot selection with calculated aggression, he compiled a calm and vital 68 not out from 81 balls, hitting 8 fours. His innings provided the backbone of Hoddesdon’s reply and ensured they at least kept pace with the required rate for long spells.

Hawkins found support in Dan Billson, who added 23 from 33 balls, but the lower order struggled against Kings Langley’s varied attack. Oliver Maughan (4), Freddie Webb (4), Roly Heard (0), and Charlie Tackley (2) couldn’t build substantial partnerships as the innings fizzled out.

For Kings Langley, Maxim Cranmer Brown (3-29) and Edward Thackeray (3-47) were the chief destroyers, with Oliver Sills (1-47) and Meet Agrawal (1-30) also chipping in. Naveen Samaraweera bowled with excellent control, sending down 10 overs for just 32 runs.

Hoddesdon were eventually dismissed for 202 in 44.5 overs, falling 97 runs short of their target.

From The Dressing Room

Adrian Lee (captain):
"We showed real fight in spells today, both with the ball and in parts of the batting, but we can’t afford to give sides the kind of start we gave them. Chasing nearly 300 is always going to be a huge ask. The effort and commitment were there, which is pleasing, but now we’ve got to take that next step and turn those patches of good cricket into complete performances that bring us wins."

Freddie Webb (five-wicket haul):
"It’s always nice to pick up a few poles, especially against a side that can really score quickly, but I’d trade them in for the points any day. We did well to drag them back a bit after their start, but we know we can bowl tighter and keep those big scores down. The belief is still there in the group – now it’s about pulling it all together at the same time so we can finish the season strongly."

Match summary
Kings Langley CC 1st XI – 299 all out (43.5 overs)
Oliver Sills 108, Rahul Aggarwal 35, Chrishan Luchmaya-Casey 37; Freddie Webb 5-61, Oliver Maughan 2-42

Hoddesdon CC 2nd XI – 202 all out (44.5 overs)
Dan Hawkins 68, Phil Stafford 49, Bilal Ahmad 25; Maxim Cranmer Brown 3-29, Edward Thackeray 3-47*

Kings Langley (30 pts) beat Hoddesdon (17 pts) by 97 runs.

League table impact
The result leaves Hoddesdon in ninth place on 184 points, still hovering just above the drop zone and only ahead of bottom-placed Old Haberdashers (87 pts). Kings Langley remain in sixth but close the gap on Harpenden in fifth.

With only a handful of matches left, Hoddesdon’s task is clear—find a way to turn competitive performances into wins.

The Green Jacket – Hawkins’ breakthrough innings
If there was one shining light for Hoddesdon, it was Dan Hawkins. Stepping up from captaining the 3rd XI into a high-pressure league fixture against a 1st XI, Hawkins batted with maturity beyond his recent level of competition. His 68 not out wasn’t just about survival—it was about giving Hoddesdon a platform and showing that he can handle the step up in class. His shot selection, patience, and tactical nous earned praise from teammates and ensured he walked away with the Green Jacket award—the club’s weekly recognition for its best individual performance. In a difficult season, this was a personal highlight and potentially a turning point for Hawkins’ role in the 2nd XI moving forward.

You can read more about this weeks Green Jacket award HERE.

Key positives for Hoddesdon
While the defeat was a setback, there were notable positives to take away:

• Freddie Webb’s five-wicket haul – his figures of 5-61 were well-earned against a batting line-up that had plenty of firepower.
• Hawkins’ batting – composure under pressure, leading the run chase, and finishing unbeaten.
• Middle-order partnerships – though not enough to secure victory, the spells where Stafford, Ahmad, and Hawkins batted together showed Hoddesdon could compete against strong opposition.

Areas to improve

• Early batting collapses – losing two wickets inside the first 10 runs put the side on the back foot immediately.
• Containing opposition centuries – Sills’ 108 was match-defining; removing him earlier might have kept the chase within reach.
• Tail-end resistance – the last few wickets fell too quickly, halting any late charge.

Looking ahead
Hoddesdon will now turn their attention to next week’s fixture knowing that time is running out to climb away from danger. If they can combine Webb’s wicket-taking threat with Hawkins’ middle-order stability—and add stronger starts at the top—they have the tools to secure vital points. A trip to third placed Northwood will be a daunting task but captain Lee hasn't yet given up on survival and remains steadfast in his opinion that his side can beat the trapdoor.

Kings Langley, meanwhile, will take confidence from a commanding all-round display and the form of their top order, particularly Sills, as they aim for a top-five finish.

Final verdict:
A tough afternoon for Hoddesdon 2nd XI against a strong Kings Langley side. There were glimpses of quality—Webb’s bowling, Hawkins’ batting—but once Sills’ century set the platform for nearly 300 runs, the chase always looked uphill. With the league table tightening, Hoddesdon must turn individual performances into full team efforts in the coming weeks to avoid a nervy end to the season.

#GreenMachine