Saturday, 27th July 2025 | Venue: Watford Town CC
Watford Town CC 2nd XI won by 44 runs

A frustrating afternoon in Hertfordshire saw Hoddesdon CC 2nd XI fall to a 44-run defeat against a disciplined Watford Town CC 2nd XI side, who defended their total with commitment and composure. After electing to bat first, Watford posted a competitive but not unachievable 220 for 6 in their 50 overs, before a sudden collapse in the Hoddesdon reply snuffed out hopes of a successful chase despite a steady top-order platform.

With the 3rd XI having no fixture this weekend, 3rd XI captain Dan Hawkins was drafted into the second string, while the experienced Adrian Lee resumed his leadership of the side. It was Watford, however, who got off to the ideal start—winning the toss and choosing to bat first on a firm, dry wicket that hinted at assistance for the batters early but some grip for the bowlers later on.

First Innings: Watford Town CC 2nd XI – 220/6 (50 overs)
Watford’s innings was anchored by two significant contributions: Syed grabbed a healthy 63, and Ayaan Athazaz, who batted with great maturity to finish not out on 77.

The early stages of the innings were evenly matched. Hoddesdon struck early thanks to Gregory Marsh, who removed Hazarika after 10 balls. Oliver Maughan then found rhythm with the ball and emerged as Hoddesdon’s standout bowler, claiming 3 wickets including that of the dangerous Ashwin Sooraj Pulla (3) and Abubaker Shahid (21).

With the score at one point at 85/4, Hoddesdon might have sensed an opportunity to keep Watford to a sub-200 total. However, Athazaz played sensibly, rotating the strike and punishing anything short. He received useful lower-order support from Usama Ahmad and Muhammad Danyal Syed, ensuring Watford batted out their overs.

Hoddesdon’s fielding remained sharp, with Lee, Marsh, Phil Stafford, Finlay Higgs, and Bilal Ahmad all involved in key dismissals. Finlay Higgs added a wicket to his name as well, getting Syed caught by the evergreen Stafford. Still, the extras column proved costly—a whopping 37 extras (including 32 wides)—offering Watford a hefty bonus and tipping the balance toward the home side. Those wayward deliveries would become a crucial talking point in the post-match analysis.

Second Innings: Hoddesdon CC 2nd XI – 176 all out (48.4 overs)
Chasing 221 to win, Hoddesdon’s reply started brightly. The top order, led by the composed Bilal Ahmad (47) and the dependable Fin Higgs (36) looked relatively untroubled in the early overs. Together, they constructed a tidy partnership after opener Freddie Hawkins fell for 6 off 31 balls.

Phil Stafford added 9 in fluent fashion, rotating the strike well with Higgs. At 97/3, Hoddesdon appeared to be in a strong position to push for victory with more than half their overs remaining.

But from there, the innings unraveled dramatically.

The collapse was triggered by a tight spell from Watford’s Usama Ahmad, who took 3 for 36 in a match-turning burst. Harcombe, Lee, Marsh and Welsby fell for a collective 9 runs leaving the side staring down the barrel at 149/8. Only Dan Hawkins offered any resistance, a classy 28 from 28 balls, but it wasn't enough.

The middle order faltered against consistent line-and-length bowling, and with Hazarika also chipping in with the ball, Hoddesdon’s innings never recovered. The final six wickets fell for just 29 runs.

Despite some resistance from Ollie Maughan (16) the tail couldn’t hold firm. Hoddesdon were eventually bowled out for 176 in 48.4 overs, 44 runs short of the target.

Score Summary
Watford Town CC 2nd XI: 220/6 (50 overs)

Hoddesdon CC 2nd XI: 176 all out (48.4 overs)

Result: Watford Town 2nd XI won by 44 runs

Captain's Verdict – Adrian Lee
Speaking after the game, Hoddesdon skipper Adrian Lee expressed his disappointment at the result:

“We were in the game until midway through our innings. Credit to Watford—they bowled in the right areas and made us pay for mistakes. The extras in our bowling cost us dearly, and the middle order collapse was disappointing, but we’ll regroup and aim to come back stronger next weekend.”

Notable Performances

• Oliver Maughan: With 3 wickets and committed bowling throughout his spell, Maughan was Hoddesdon’s standout performer with the ball and contributed with the bat too.
• Gregory Marsh: Showed consistency with the ball; reliable and economical with a key breakthrough early on.
• Oliver Welsby: His pace bowling squeezed the hosts and gave a sharp economy of just 2.6 from his allotted 10 overs.
• Bilal Ahmad: Another classy knock just shy of a 50, but needed others to hang around.
• Fin Higgs: Hugely popular figure in the side and with 36 runs, proving to be a big asset to this team at such a tender age.
• Dan Hawkins: made the step up to 2nd XI cricket look easy with a well earned, run-a-ball 28.

League Standings – Division 4A

Position Team Points
1 Hitchin CC 2nd XI 306
2 Northwood Town CC 1st XI 303
3 Broxbourne CC 2nd XI 272
4 Watford Town CC 2nd XI 256
5 Kings Langley CC 1st XI 248
6 Harpenden CC 3rd XI 230
7 Sandridge CC 1st XI 219
8 Hatfield and Crusaders CC 1st XI 179
9 Hoddesdon CC 2nd XI 160
10 Old Haberdashers' CC 1st XI 80

This defeat leaves Hoddesdon 9th in the table, only 80 points clear of the bottom side and with a tricky run-in still ahead. However, with plenty of fixtures remaining, there’s still every opportunity to turn things around.

Looking Ahead
Hoddesdon’s 2nd XI will need to bounce back quickly as they look to climb away from the lower reaches of Division 4A. The team has shown flashes of quality this season, and with a few tweaks—particularly to reduce the extras with the ball and to shore up the middle order—the side can still target a top-half finish, but it may rely on results out of their control. Selection may again involve some flexibility depending on 3rd XI fixtures, but the likes of Stafford, Marsh and Welsby offer added depth when available. With experienced heads like Lee, Maughan and Harcombe guiding the younger talent, there remains belief within the camp that they can respond positively. A home fixture against a ruthless and in form, 3rd placed Broxbourne 2nd XI will, however, provide yet another stern test for Lee's charges.

Final Word
This was a match of fine margins—ultimately defined by discipline and execution. Watford showed both, while Hoddesdon will rue the extras with the ball and the sudden fragility with the bat. Still, there were positives to take, and the foundation of a strong side remains intact.

As the business end of the season looms, Hoddesdon’s 2nd XI will know what’s required: sharper bowling, greater composure in the middle overs, and the ability to see run-chases home. Saturday’s game may have ended in defeat—but with lessons learned, there’s everything still to play for.

#GreenMachine