Hoddesdon CC’s Saturday 3rd XI returned to winning ways on Saturday afternoon with a gutsy 45-run victory over Ickleford CC’s 3rd XI at their adopted fortress of St Mary’s Lane, Hertingfordbury. On a warm but mercifully cooler afternoon than the previous scorcher, skipper Dan Hawkins marshalled his troops with trademark determination to secure a vital win that lifts Hoddesdon into the top half of Division 12 East.

In a game that will be remembered as much for its heartwarming family subplot as its decisive result, veteran Antony Higgs and his daughter Imogen starred with the ball to bowl out the visitors for 112. With son Fin Higgs simultaneously featuring for the club’s 1st XI, Saturday proved a red-letter day for a family whose contribution to Hoddesdon CC simply cannot be overstated.

Toss Loss, Bat First? No Thanks, Said Ickleford
Ickleford skipper Mark Howard won the toss and, perhaps eyeing the tinge of green and cloud cover, inserted Hoddesdon. With runs often at a premium at Hertingfordbury, it looked a sound decision—but it underestimated both Hoddesdon’s resolve and their slowly maturing batting order.

The Hoddesdon innings began awkwardly. Nikunj Pradhan, returning to the top of the order, fell first ball, caught off the bowling of Ronak Dawawala. Nirosh Perera followed not long after, bowled by James Kench, and when skipper Dan Hawkins was caught for 12, the score read 31-3 and the hosts were wobbling.

Middle Order Rescue: Higgs and Keerthichandra Steady the Ship
At 39-4 following the dismissal of Sampathreddy Palepu, the home side needed a platform. Enter Darshana Keerthichandra, who combined patience and calm to blunt Ickleford’s threat. He was joined by Antony Higgs, and the pair dug in with a mixture of blocks, nudges, and the occasional flourish to shift momentum.

Their stand was everything Hoddesdon needed: composed, watchful, and punctuated by subtle shifts in gear. Keerthichandra played a steadying role, while Higgs attacked when required—dispatching short balls with ease and finding gaps smartly on his way to a fluent 44 off 51 deliveries.

By the time Keerthichandra fell for 39—bowled by Noah Giggle (we're not laughing)—Hoddesdon had recovered to 125-6 and were into the final ten overs.

There was still time for some tail-end entertainment: Ronan Cunningham struck two handsome boundaries in his 17, and Jack Buzec added a swift 5. Extras again helped the cause, with Ickleford conceding 30 in extras, including 17 wides.

At the close of their 40 overs, Hoddesdon had compiled 157/9—a competitive total on a slightly sluggish pitch that rewarded disciplined bowling.

Ickleford’s Reply: Fractured from the Start
If Ickleford had any illusions of chasing 158 easily, Hoddesdon’s bowlers quickly disabused them of the idea. Scott Higgins was tight with the new ball, returning 8-1-16-0, building pressure and stifling scoring options from the outset.

At the other end, Imogen Higgs, brimming with confidence and purpose, struck a vital early blow: David Baker stumped by Nikunj Pradhan with just eight runs on the board. The sight of a 16-year-old combining with a senior, experienced wicketkeeper was a perfect image of old and new Hoddesdon combining seamlessly.

Nirosh Perera came into the attack and bagged two quick wickets, including the dangerous Mark Howard and Rahul Iyer, before Ronan Cunningham joined the party with his best bowling performance in a Hoddesdon shirt.

Cunningham was ruthless, removing opener Jayden Lidder for 26 before returning to skittle the lower middle order. He finished with excellent figures of 7.2-1-17-3, his three wickets coming at critical moments to crush any hopes Ickleford had of late-order resistance.

Spin to Win: Higgs and Higgs Seal It
As Ickleford’s innings collapsed in clumps, Antony Higgs came on to twist the knife with the soft hands of experience. His three wickets included Noah Giggle, Joshua Schumann, and Harry Davies, all of whom fell trying to force the pace. The elder Higgs returned figures of 8-1-26-3, showcasing all his guile, control, and still-sharp game intelligence.

And while she took just the one wicket, Imogen Higgs bowled beautifully, her 8-1-19-1 a model of discipline and flight. Her control, variation, and understanding of the pitch belied her years. She and her father combined for five wickets between them—and more importantly, demonstrated the power of club cricket to unite generations.

The final wicket fell with Ickleford still 45 runs short. Bowled out for 112 in 39.2 overs, the visitors had never really looked in control. For Hoddesdon, it was a much-needed win—and one that drew warm applause from the home faithful.

Captain’s Comments
Speaking after the match, skipper Dan Hawkins was full of praise for his side’s resilience:

"It wasn’t a perfect performance, but it was full of character. We didn’t panic when we were 39-4. Darsh and Higgsy gave us a platform, and we knew 150 would be tricky to chase here. With the ball, I thought we were outstanding—tight lines, good fields, and everyone stuck to their jobs."

He also acknowledged the family theme that dominated the day:

“To have Antony and Imogen playing together—and both contributing so well—was brilliant. And with Fin playing in the 1s, it just shows how important the Higgs family is to this club.”

The Higgs Family Affair
It’s hard to overstate how special Saturday was for the Higgs clan. Antony—ever present in the club’s recent history—rolled back the years with a match-defining all-round display. Imogen bowled with immense maturity. And Fin, of course, was striding out for the 1st XI at the same time.

There are few clubs at this level who can boast such depth of commitment across generations. The Higgs family embody the spirit of Hoddesdon CC, and Saturday was a perfect showcase of that legacy. We are also lucky to have other family contributions across the club, including the likes of the Webb, Tackley and Hawkins collective.

Points and Position
The 30 points lift Hoddesdon 3rd XI into 5th place in the HPCL Division 12 East table, leapfrogging both Ickleford and Bayford & Hertford 2s. With eight matches played, Hoddesdon now have 134 points—just 26 shy of 4th placed Datchworth.

For Ickleford, it was a frustrating afternoon that leaves them with work to do, still sitting just one place above bottom side Letchworth Garden City.

Scorecard Summary
Hoddesdon 3rd XI – 157/9 (40.0 overs)
A. Higgs 44, D. Keerthichandra 39, R. Cunningham 17
R. Dawawala 3-17, J. Kench 2-29, J. Schumann 2-21

Ickleford 3rd XI – 112 all out (39.2 overs)
J. Lidder 26, C. Coleman 35
A. Higgs 3-26, R. Cunningham 3-17, N. Perera 2-29

Result: Hoddesdon won by 45 runs

Up Next
Hoddesdon return to action this coming Saturday against Datchworth—a key clash that could determine who finishes in the top three come season’s end. With confidence restored and momentum building, Hawkins’ side will be eager to continue their push up the table.

And if the Higgs family are again involved, few would bet against another special chapter being written.

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