Match Preview: Bayford & Hertford CC 2nd XI vs Hoddesdon CC 3rd XI

Saturday 23 August 2025 – HPCL Division 12 East – Bayford & Hertford Nondescripts CC – 1:00pm

This Saturday sees Hoddesdon CC’s Saturday 3rd XI make the short trip to face Bayford & Hertford CC 2nd XI in a Division 12 East encounter that promises all the ingredients of a late-season classic. Both sides sit in the heart of the table, separated by just 14 points, and with pride, bragging rights, and crucial league positioning on the line, there’s plenty to play for as August winds towards its climax.

But the storyline goes far beyond the usual mid-table battle. Hoddesdon welcome back one of their greatest ever cricketers – the club’s all-time leading wicket-taker, Aidan McElligott – who has answered the call for one final appearance in Green Machine colours. A metronomic bowler who defined an era with his relentless accuracy and knack for prising out top-order batters, McElligott’s return is nothing short of a landmark moment for the club.

The League Picture

Division 12 East has been fiercely competitive this year. At the top, Old Albanian 3rd XI (365 pts) and Mill Hill Village 4th XI (364 pts) are locked in a thrilling duel for promotion. Beneath them, Datchworth 3rd XI (274 pts) and Preston 4th XI (258 pts) form the chasing pack. Hoddesdon 3rd XI currently occupy 5th place on 234 points, a solid standing but one that belies a stop-start campaign of mixed form – their recent record reads W, X, L, W, L. Bayford & Hertford sit just one place and 14 points behind on 220 points, suggesting they’ve discovered momentum at the right time. Neither side is likely to mount a promotion charge this late in the season, but equally neither will want to slide further down the table. A win here could go a long way towards securing a strong finish and building confidence for 2026.

Bayford & Hertford: The Danger Men

The hosts come into this clash buoyed by a couple of morale-boosting victories, and their stats tell you all you need to know about the threats they pose.

• Jemile Al-Darraji (406 runs) – the division’s form run-scorer for Bayford, combining consistency with the ability to bat long. His runs have been the bedrock of their campaign. Hoddesdon will know early wickets are essential to prevent him dictating the innings.
• Jono Slater (108)* – holder of Bayford’s highest individual score this season. A powerful stroke-maker, Slater is capable of turning the match in a session if he gets going.
• Felix Baxendale (178.57 strike rate) – the wild card. His brutal strike rate makes him the ultimate game-changer in the middle order, someone who can turn a steady platform into a match-winning total.

On the bowling front:

• Alan Pikesley (15 wickets) has led the wicket-taking charts for Bayford with his nagging seamers.
• Kevin Nicholls (6/13, best bowling; 3.02 economy) is the man who gives them control. His miserly economy rate marks him out as one of the toughest bowlers to score against in the league.

If Bayford’s batting trio fire and Nicholls applies his stranglehold with the ball, Hoddesdon could find themselves in for a long afternoon.

Hoddesdon CC 3rd XI: A New-Look Side

Hoddesdon’s preparations for this fixture have been shaped by the club’s wider selection puzzle. Regular skipper Dan Hawkins has once again been called up to bolster the 2nd XI in their crucial relegation battle with Old Haberdashers. That leaves leadership duties with Scott Higgins, who will relish the challenge of marshalling the side once more in Hawkins’ absence. But the real headline is, of course, the return of Aidan McElligott.

A Legend Returns: The Story of Aidan McElligott

When the history of Hoddesdon Cricket Club is written, the name Aidan McElligott will always have its own chapter. Having represented the club across all senior Saturday XIs over decades of service, McElligott’s numbers speak volumes:

• With the ball: a staggering 704 wickets from 4,205 overs, including 31 five-wicket hauls.
• Best figures of 8/36 against Watton-at-Stone in 2012.
• An economy rate of 3.29 and a bowling average of 19.68, showcasing his consistency over thousands of overs.
• Dismissals spread across bowled (288), caught (308), and LBW (92), underlining his ability to beat batters in multiple ways.
• 443 games, 270 innings, 2,288 runs with the bat.
• A highest score of 71, two half-centuries, and 226 boundaries across his career.

McElligott was not a flash-in-the-pan strike bowler, but rather the epitome of discipline. As precise as a Swiss watch with ball in hand, he strangled oppositions into mistakes, building pressure relentlessly. Batters spoke of the suffocating accuracy, the way every ball demanded attention, and how even the smallest lapse of concentration could be their undoing. His 8/36 remains one of the most devastating spells ever delivered in Hoddesdon colours, while his career haul of 704 wickets is a club record that may never be broken.

Having retired to the Isle of Wight, few expected to see him in action again. Yet with circumstances aligning, McElligott returns this weekend for one last dance. The sight of him steaming in wearing Hoddy green again will be a moment to savour for players, officials, and supporters alike. As one committee member put it this week: “Aidan isn’t just a bowler – he’s a part of the fabric of this club. To have him back, even for just one game, is a joy.”

The Tactical Battle

For Hoddesdon, much will hinge on whether McElligott can rediscover his rhythm after years away. His very presence will lift the dressing room, but the challenge is a stern one: Bayford’s batting strength, particularly Al-Darraji and Slater, demands the sort of control that only a bowler of McElligott’s pedigree can provide. Skipper Scott Higgins will look to balance his attack around McElligott’s control. If the veteran can tie down one end, it frees Hoddesdon’s other bowlers to attack with greater freedom, seeking breakthroughs rather than merely containment.

With the bat, Hoddesdon will need a collective effort. Their recent inconsistency stems from collapses that have left them short of competitive totals. Someone must play the Al-Darraji role – batting time, holding the innings together, and allowing stroke-makers to play around them.

The Stakes

While neither side is in promotion contention, this is no dead rubber. For Hoddesdon, finishing above local rivals Bayford & Hertford would be a statement of pride, ensuring bragging rights through the winter. For Bayford, victory could propel them above Hoddesdon into the top five. There’s also the intangible factor: the McElligott effect. Teammates will be desperate to perform alongside him, while opponents will know they face a bowler who has terrorised club cricket across Hertfordshire for decades.

What They’re Saying

Inside Hoddesdon’s camp, the mood is buoyant. One player on Tuesday evening remarked: “When you see Aidan’s name on the team sheet, it gives you a lift. It’s like having a cheat code in your side. He might be older, but class is permanent.”

This fixture has all the hallmarks of a thriller. Bayford & Hertford’s batting firepower makes them dangerous, while Hoddesdon’s X-factor is the return of a legend. Expect Bayford to come hard with the bat, looking to unsettle McElligott early. If he weathers that storm and finds his groove, Hoddesdon could strangle the life out of their innings. Equally, Hoddesdon’s batting must show more resilience than in recent weeks – runs on the board will be vital. In truth, this feels like a match that will swing on one spell of bowling. And if that spell comes from McElligott, the fairytale may just write itself.

Final Word

Saturday’s match at Bayford & Hertford is a meeting of neighbours, a tussle for mid-table supremacy, and above all, the celebration of a club legend. For one afternoon only, Aidan McElligott returns to the GreenMachine. Whether he takes wickets or not, simply seeing him in action again will be a moment to treasure. For Hoddesdon’s younger players, it’s a chance to share the field with a master of his craft. For Bayford, it’s the challenge of spoiling the script. Whatever unfolds, expect passion, drama, and perhaps one more magical chapter in the storied career of Hoddesdon’s greatest ever wicket-taker.

Cricket, after all, has a way of delivering these moments.

#GreenMachine