SAVANHU’S HATTRICK HEROICS SEAL VICTORY FOR HODDY

Hoddesdon’s 3rd XI secured a remarkable 21-run victory over a strong Cheshunt side last Saturday, thanks to hat-trick heroics from Terry Savanhu at Thundridge. Due to availability issues throughout the club, the 3s were somewhat depleted, but the young side performed superbly to jump above Cheshunt into 3rd spot in the division.

Cheshunt skipper Simon England won the toss and elected to bowl first, but Jordan Harrison and Terry Savanhu began strongly for Hoddy. Harrison played an important supporting role for Savanhu, who batted with intent and freedom. The pair put on 38 for the opening wicket, before Harrison was adjudged out LBW to England for 8.

Hayden Brown joined Savanhu at the crease and both men took the attack to Cheshunt’s opening bowlers, producing an array of attacking shots, the highlight of which came when Brown strode down the wicket and emphatically hit Watkins over his head for a straight six.

Savanhu appeared to be edging towards his half-century, before he was caught by Stewart Gough off the bowling of Watkins for 42; nevertheless, he had established an extremely strong foundation for the middle-order to build upon.

Hayden Brown was dismissed in the following over, as the drinks interval approached, after an astute slower ball from Watkins bowled Hayden for 38. Hoddesdon were 89-3 at drinks, although given the lack of batting depth at their disposal, they needed a substantial partnership from Neil Conner and Peter Draisey.

Fortunately, the experienced duo batted well and frustrated the Cheshunt attack. Conner was the aggressor in their partnership, whereas Draisey was more watchful and pragmatic. Cheshunt spinner Shree Naveen was extremely economical and reduced Hoddesdon’s run-rate, but Conner was still scoring at a healthy rate, before he was adjudged LBW to Stewart Gough for 31.

Ross Maughan and Henry Taylor departed in quick succession as Stewart Gough claimed his second and third wickets respectively. Maughan scored 5, whilst Taylor failed to trouble the scorers. Hoddesdon skipper Josh Gorton joined Draisey at the crease, but the latter’s resistance was ended by Naveen, who bowled Hoddesdon’s wicket-keeper for 24.

Youngster Hamish McKinley joined Gorton at the crease, as Hoddy attempted to finish their innings with a flourish. McKinley batted superbly, hitting two delightful straight drives for four, before benefitting from careless overthrows to record his first ever official 6! McKinley finished on 14 not out, whilst Gorton remained unbeaten on 3. Hoddesdon finished on 174-7 from their allotted 47 overs, which they felt was a defendable total, if they bowled to their potential.

Terry Savanhu and Henry Taylor opened the bowling for the 3s, with Savanhu claiming the wicket of Ian Brotherton, comprehensively bowling the left-hander with a deadly yorker. Taylor then claimed his first league wicket of 2015, as Matthew Moss top-edged Taylor’s leg-stump yorker into the grateful hands of Hamish McKinley.

When Savanhu trapped Watkins LBW for just 6, Cheshunt were reeling at 50-3 and the hosts sensed an opportunity. However, Cheshunt opener Leroy Thompson was looking assured, whilst Shree Naveen showed aggressive intent from the outset. Josh Gorton and Joe Duke replaced Taylor and Savanhu respectively, and Gorton claimed the important breakthrough of Thompson, who spooned a good-length delivery up to Harrison at gully.

Simon England, who has been in tremendous form with the bat in recent weeks, came in at number 6, but his stay at the crease was premature, as Joe Duke claimed his first scalp of the afternoon. England picked out McKinley at mid-on, and the youngster demonstrated great composure to produce an excellent catch.

Cheshunt were 90-5 and Hoddesdon were bowling very well, but Naveen appeared to be the danger-man, as he hit two maximums off Duke on the short leg-side boundary. However, Hoddesdon’s young spinner remained unperturbed and trapped Gough LBW for 8 with an excellent delivery, to leave Cheshunt 6 wickets down.

Moments later, Duke played an integral role in another crucial wicket, this time in the fielding department. Naveen charged down the wicket off Gorton’s bowling, but failed to sufficiently connect with his straight drive, allowing Duke to rise well and hold on to a fine catch.

Kris Dugdale and Alex Pigg were charged with the task of securing victory for the visitors and they began to build a fine partnership, with Dugdale’s power-hitting concerning the hosts. With Cheshunt requiring 21 wickets to win, and Hoddesdon going in search of 3 wickets, Savanhu was introduced back into the attack, and to remarkable effect.

Dugdale struggled to cope with the pace of Savanhu and after flailing his bat desperately at a few deliveries in the previous over, he finally succumbed to the first ball of Savanhu’s 11th over, as he struck the ball straight to Joe Duke at mid-on, who was coolness personified to complete the catch.

Savanhu clean bowled Bradleigh Newsum for a golden duck in his very next delivery, which brought Liam Cronin to the crease. Cronin would suffer the same fate as Newsum, as Savanhu’s brilliant delivery obliterated the off-stump and sealed his hat-trick, to spark jubilant scenes from the Hoddesdon players.

Next week, the 3’s travel to Mill Hill Village, as they attempt to build on this fine victory and continue their excellent form. It’s been a very encouraging season for the 3rd XI thus far and they’ll be hoping to maintain this momentum in the coming weeks.

Words: Josh Gorton