HPCL Division 12 East – Match Report
Letchworth Garden City CC 5th XI v Hoddesdon CC 3rd XI
Saturday 28 June 2025 | St Christopher’s School, Letchworth
Letchworth Garden City CC won by 5 wickets

On one of the hottest days of the summer so far, the picturesque setting of St Christopher’s School in Letchworth played host to a tight and compelling contest in the Hertfordshire Premier Cricket League Division 12 East, as Hoddesdon’s 3rd XI travelled to face Letchworth Garden City’s 5th XI in a match that ebbed and flowed under blistering sunshine before being decided in a blur of boundaries and momentum shifts.

With temperatures nudging 31°C and the outfield crackling with dryness, Dan Hawkins, captain of the Green Machine, called correctly at the toss — remarkably only the second time he’s done so this season — and elected to bat first. Hawkins and his team were riding high after an emphatic win at Lowfield the week before, but they knew this match presented an altogether different challenge against a Letchworth side determined to climb off the foot of the table.

With only nine names confirmed at selection midweek, Hoddesdon’s batting line-up had a slightly makeshift feel, though there were plenty of familiar figures amongst the potential XI by the time the action started. The reliable Neil Martin Pomeroy, the in-form Ash Hill, wicketkeeper Nikunj Pradhan, and experienced heads like Adam Tackley and Nirosh Perera were all in the ranks. Letchworth, meanwhile, were led by captain G. Preston and had the dependable E. O’Sullivan behind the stumps.

Early Wickets Halt Green Machine Start
The early overs set the tone for a tricky innings. Hoddesdon’s top order found the going difficult on a surface that offered variable bounce and just enough seam movement to test judgement. Letchworth’s opening bowlers found good rhythm and extracted early breakthroughs, keeping things tight and denying the visitors a platform.

Hoddesdon’s first few batters were unable to fully capitalise on the fast outfield, with dot balls mounting and pressure inevitably telling. There were glimpses of resistance — a crisp cover drive here, a worked single there — but no one could quite wrestle control. Letchworth's bowlers were disciplined, keeping lines tight and drawing mistakes with smart variations.

The introduction of first-change bowlers saw more of the same: intelligent lines and good catching support meant wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, preventing Hoddesdon from stringing together a substantial partnership.

A Middle-Order Rally — But No Acceleration
With the score teetering around the 70-run mark midway through the innings, the onus fell on Hoddesdon’s middle order to stabilise proceedings. Captain Dan Hawkins looked composed at the crease, playing with a maturity that belied the chaos around him. He picked up ones and twos with calm assurance, and briefly hinted at lifting the tempo with a few well-placed boundaries.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Nikunj Pradhan kept the scoreboard ticking with neat glances and nudges. Their partnership provided the innings with some much-needed structure — a steadying stand that gave Hoddesdon something to work with. Though there were no fireworks, their rotation of strike in the face of sustained pressure showed heart and patience.

Unfortunately for Hoddesdon, just as things began to settle, wickets fell again in clusters. The returning Letchworth seamers, buoyed by a home crowd and the energy-sapping conditions, found movement late in the innings, accounting for both Hill and Pradhan in quick succession.

From that point on, the innings never recovered its footing. Adam Tackley made a gritty contribution down the order, but lacked support to build anything meaningful. Hoddesdon ultimately closed on 130 for 9 from their full allocation of 40 overs — a score that was always going to be below par in such quick-scoring conditions, but not one to be dismissed entirely, especially with a strong bowling attack in their armoury.

Breakthroughs Bring Hope in the Field
Defending 130, Hoddesdon came out fired up after tea and made immediate inroads. Skipper Dan Hawkins marshalled his bowlers well, opening with attacking fields and rotating his options intelligently. The breakthrough came early, with Scott Higgins trapping Letchworth’s opener and skipper with a well bowled ball to remove the bails.

With Higgins and Nirosh Perera sharing duties early on, Hoddesdon found a brief window of control. Nirosh produced a beautiful delivery to remove Letchworth’s number three, while Scott kept things tight at the other end, varying his pace to great effect.

At 18 for 3, the match was wide open. Letchworth were wobbling, and Hoddesdon sensed an opportunity. Jack Bailey entered the attack and bowled a testing spell that included a sharp catch to remove the dangerous middle-order man Rajesh Verma, who had looked likely to launch a counter-attack. But cricket is a game of momentum, and in the brutal heat, Hoddesdon’s grip on the game began to loosen just when they needed to tighten it.

Letchworth’s Counter-Punch: A Decisive Stand
With the score at 56/5, the game was still in the balance. But Letchworth the stand that turned the tide for good. Batting with intent, they took on Hoddesdon’s bowlers with a mixture of clever placement and hard running — exploiting gaps and punishing anything short. The fielding, which had been tight early on, began to wilt under the sun. A few misfields and overthrows crept in, allowing Letchworth to relieve pressure and add runs at pace. The stand raced past fifty, leaving Hoddesdon searching for answers and by then, the game was all but gone.

With just a handful of runs required, Letchworth’s keeper helped steer his side home in the 22nd over, with the final run met by loud cheers from the home side and rueful applause from the travelling Green Machine.

Match Summary
Hoddesdon CC 3rd XI: 130/9 (40 overs)
Letchworth Garden City CC 5th XI: 131/5 (21.2 overs)
Result: Letchworth Garden City won by 5 wickets
Points: Letchworth 30, Hoddesdon 9
Venue: St Christopher’s School, Letchworth
Toss: Hoddesdon won and elected to bat
Hoddesdon captain: Dan Hawkins
Letchworth captain: G. Preston
Wicketkeepers: Nikunj Pradhan (HCC), E. O’Sullivan (LGCCC)

Reflections and Regrouping
The five-wicket defeat stings more due to the opportunity missed. Hoddesdon had their moments — with bat and ball — but a lack of partnerships, a few missteps in the field, and a failure to push on when in a competitive position ultimately cost them. Captain Dan Hawkins can take heart from the early bowling performance, the commitment in the field, and the consistency of character shown by his side across the last fortnight. After a great win, this defeat halts momentum but doesn’t undo the progress made.

Letchworth, meanwhile, will take great encouragement from what was their first full-point win of the season — a vital 30-point haul that breathes new life into their Division 12 East campaign and lifts them to withing 57 points of Hoddesdon.

Points and Position
The result saw Letchworth claim the full 30 league points, while Hoddesdon salvaged 9 points from the contest. In the updated league standings, both sides are at the wrong end of the table. For Hoddesdon, this means a drop to 8th place, and a reminder that survival in this ultra-competitive division requires consistent execution with both bat and ball. With the halfway stage in sight, every point becomes critical — and every lapse potentially costly.

Looking Ahead
Next week’s fixture at home to Ickleford will be a crucial test of character. The Green Machine will be desperate to respond, to prove this was just a blip on their road to mid-table stability — not the start of another slide. The potential for improvement is clear. With the return of full availability expected, and a strong backbone of players such as Pomeroy, Hill, Pradhan, and Perera to build around, Hoddesdon have the tools to bounce back quickly.

Dan Hawkins will no doubt be drumming home the message: take responsibility with the bat, finish off innings in the field, and stay mentally switched on throughout. A sharper performance, combined with that trademark Hoddesdon spirit, could make all the difference.

As the summer heats up, so too does the league table — and the next chapter in this rollercoaster of a season is just around the corner.

#GreenMachine