MATCH PREVIEW: LETCHWORTH GARDEN CITY CC 5th XI vs HODDESDON CC 3rd XI – SATURDAY 28 JUNE 2025

• Venue: St Christopher’s School, Barrington Road, Letchworth Garden City, Herts, SG6 3JZ
• Start Time: 13:00
• Competition: Hertfordshire Premier Cricket League – Division 12 East

Can Hoddy Keep the Heat On? Green Machine Rolls into Letchworth After Lowfield Masterclass

After setting Lowfield ablaze last weekend with a thumping 89-run win in front of a bumper crowd, Hoddesdon CC’s HPCL 3rd XI take their show on the road this Saturday as they head north to face bottom-of-the-table Letchworth Garden City 5th XI in Division 12 East. With temperatures forecast to rise as high as 29°C, it promises to be a scorcher both on and off the field.

Fresh from a performance dripping in class, character and Green Jacket-worthy batting brilliance, Dan Hawkins’ side are full of belief—and with the form they’re showing, who can blame them? After four league defeats in a row, the ship has not just been steadied, it’s been strapped with sails, fitted with engines and pointed full steam ahead toward mid-table and beyond. This week, the venue shifts from Lowfield’s theatre of noise to the leafy confines of St Christophers School in Letchworth Garden City, where the 5th XI of the hosts are looking for their first win of the season. Hoddesdon will be looking to show no mercy.

BACK TO BACK WINS ON THE CARDS?
Hoddesdon's recent form has been a mixed bag, but momentum is now firmly on their side. After losing four straight to Southgate Adelaide, Preston, Old Albanians and Mill Hill Village, they bounced back with a sensational showing last week against Bayford & Hertford 2nd XI.

That victory was a statement. With their usual Hertingfordbury home ground unavailable due to the Summer Fair, the 3rd XI were handed a golden opportunity to strut their stuff at the club’s spiritual home of Lowfield—usually the preserve of the 1st and 2nd XIs. They seized it in style. Captain Dan Hawkins, who hadn't won a toss all season, finally called correctly and opted to bat in front of a record crowd. Over 200 fans poured through the gates and the beer flowed, the sun shone, and the runs piled up.

Bilal Ahmad took centre stage with a majestic 100 from 79 balls, earning the coveted Green Jacket award in the process. Supported by classy knocks from the skipper himself (66) and Oliver Maughan (35*), Hoddesdon posted a daunting 269/3 from their 40 overs.

In reply, Bayford were never really in the hunt. Tight, disciplined bowling—most notably from Scott Higgins (1-22) and Oliver Maughan (2-22)—meant the visitors could only manage 180/4. A thumping win, 30 points in the bag, and smiles all around Lowfield.

THIS WEEK’S OPPOSITION: LETCHWORTH GC 5TH XI
By contrast, Saturday’s opponents are experiencing a nightmare campaign. Letchworth Garden City 5th XI sit rooted to the foot of the Division 12 East table, with just 17 points from six matches. Their record reads: played 6, won 0, lost 5, one game cancelled. Last weeks home fixture agaisnt Mill Hill was conceded, meaning they were deducted 10 points for failute to fulfil a fixture, and all the evidence points to a side with severe availability problems. Nobody likes to see a club struggle but Hawkins may well be licking his lips at the potential for the hosts to be a shell of their former selves come Saturday. Their recent form guide tells a sorry tale—four losses and one cancellation in their last five. Most alarmingly, they’ve been on the wrong end of some heavy scorelines, struggling both with the bat and ball. For Hoddesdon, this fixture represents a golden chance to continue climbing the table and push past the 100-point mark.

All out for 79 and 81 in their last two innings will concern captain Paul Philbey, but there are some chinks of light. Jake Mullen took 2-22 in his last outing and Vishnu Nair also grabbed a pair of wickets from his 8 overs so Hoddesdon cannot afford any complacency. Cricket has a cruel way of punishing that kind of behaviour, and Hawkins’ men will need to treat their hosts with the same intensity they showed against Bayford & Hertford. Expect the Green Machine to arrive focused.

POTENTIAL LINE-UP: WHO COULD FEATURE FOR HODDY?
As always with 3rd XI cricket, selection can be a moving feast. But based on the squad list submitted midweek, here are some of the likely names to don the green this Saturday:

• Daniel Hawkins – The skipper leads from the front, and his fluent 66 last week showed he’s seeing it big. His tactical calls in the field were also spot on—expect another busy day at the helm.
• Neil Pomeroy – A wily campaigner with the ability to calm things down at the crease or tie up an end with the ball. Mr. Reliable, who comes off the back of a fine batting performance in the Sunday side last weekend
• Ash Hill – Bringing energy, athleticism and intent. If the outfield is quick, expect Ash to be chasing leather with his usual work rate—or smacking it.
• Sampathreddy Palepu – Handy with bat and ball, the all-rounder could be key on what is expected to be a flat deck.
• Nikunj Pradhan – Emerging as a dependable option and always good for a boundary or two with the bat.
• Adam Tackley – The young seamer continues to develop at pace. Could thrive in the hot, dry conditions.
• Nirosh Perera – A legend in the making. Don’t blink—you might miss his flashes of brilliance.
• Jack Bailey – Brings passion and punch to the squad. A potential game-changer in the field and another who has trained hard and performed well of late.
• George Elsom – Another who’s growing week-on-week. Not afraid to play his shots and showed class in the field on Sunday with a magnificent catch that went high into the sky before nestling into his hands.
• Akshay - A relative unknown quantity but exciting to see what he brings to the 3s party.

Squad additions are expected to fill the final slot, likely influenced by availability across the wider club, but Hawkins will have confidence in whoever joins the ranks after last week’s display.

WEATHER WATCH: BRING THE SUN CREAM!
The forecast for Saturday is hot, hot, hot. Temperatures are expected to push close to 29°C, with very little cloud cover and virtually no breeze. Hydration, shade, and smart field placements will be crucial. Expect slower fielding as the day wears on—but also potential rewards for those who can exploit tired bowlers and chase weary fielders.

For Hoddesdon’s seamers, adapting their lengths will be key. The St Chris’ School wicket can be on the slower side, so expect cutters, changes of pace, and plenty of chatter from the slips.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?
With Hoddesdon now up to 6th place in the Division 12 East table on 95 points, victory could lift them into the top 3 depending on results elsewhere. Datchworth (100 points) and Southgate Adelaide (116) are just within reach. It’s also an opportunity to put real distance between themselves and Saturday’s hosts, who sit bottom on just 17 points. Last weeks oppo Bayford & Hertford (92 points) are snapping at Hoddesdon’s heels, so every point counts in the jostle for mid-table respectability. But more than that, another confident, clinical display would cement belief in this group. With key figures like Greg Marsh, Freddie Webb, Freddie Hawkins and others flitting between XIs depending on availability, the third-stringers are proving they’re ready to perform—regardless of location or occasion.

HEAT, HUNGER AND HAWKINS
Captain Dan Hawkins will know all too well that a good win means nothing if you follow it with a slip-up. He’ll be demanding focus, energy, and discipline from the off. Win the toss again (dare we say it?), bat first, post a big score, and turn the screw. If the batting firepower seen last week carries over—particularly if someone like Dan or Ash go big agaib—Hoddesdon could put the hosts to the sword. But if not, the likes of Pomeroy, Sampathreddy, Perera and Pradhan are more than capable of producing the goods.

With the crowd expected to be more modest than last week’s green-and-white festival at Lowfield, Hoddy will have to bring their own energy. But if they start fast and turn up the pressure, there’s no reason they can’t dominate this game from start to finish.

FINAL WORD
Momentum is a powerful thing in cricket. Last week, the 3rd XI had it all—the crowd, the atmosphere, the magic of playing at Lowfield, and the belief that comes with a well-rounded performance. This Saturday is a very different setting. But the stakes remain high. Hoddesdon have a golden opportunity to turn one win into two, to show that their charge up the table is no flash in the pan.

Let’s see if they can handle the heat—both from the Letchworth sun and the weight of expectation.

#GreenMachine