HPCL Division 12 East – Saturday 9 August 2025
Southgate Adelaide CC 3rd XI (182/8 in 39.3 overs) lost to Hoddesdon CC Saturday 3rd XI (185/2 in 30.3 overs) by 7 wickets
Venue: Old Elizabethans CC

On a warm August afternoon at Old Elizabethans CC, Hoddesdon 3rd XI produced a disciplined, ruthless, and highly efficient performance to see off a depleted Southgate Adelaide CC 3rd XI side by seven wickets in HPCL Division 12 East.

With regular skipper Dan Hawkins called up to bolster the 2nd XI ranks, Scott Higgins was handed the captain’s armband for the day — and he made his mark immediately. Winning the toss, Higgins had no hesitation in inserting the hosts into bat. The pitch offered a bit of early movement, the outfield was quick, and with Southgate only able to field eight players, Hoddesdon knew that an aggressive approach with the ball and in the field could reap rewards.

First Innings – Hoddesdon Apply the Squeeze
Southgate’s innings was always going to be a battle against the odds. With just eight batsmen available, there was little margin for error. Higgins’ decision to bowl first was backed up by his own tight new-ball spell — 8 overs, 3 maidens, 22 runs — that kept the scoring in check and applied early scoreboard pressure.

At the other end, Nirosh Perera provided the breakthroughs. Bowling with control and a full length, Perera’s 2 for 35 from 8 overs included two important scalps that pegged back any Southgate attempt at acceleration.

Benjamin Strong took on a middle-overs role with 5 overs for 34 runs, bowling tidily and keeping one end tight despite some resistance from Southgate’s middle order. Nikunj Pradhan chipped in with 2 overs for 15 runs, part of a bowling rotation that ensured no partnership could truly settle.

The later stages of the innings saw Hoddesdon mix up the pace and angles. Jack Bailey bowled with nagging accuracy for 1 for 22 from 6 overs, and his wicket came at a crucial time just as the hosts looked to launch a final assault. Lowell Mason (7.1-0-22-2) was particularly effective in breaking through towards the back end of the innings, while Jacob Buzec’s 4-over spell of 2 for 26 wrapped up the tail, ensuring Southgate couldn’t bat out their overs.

In the end, Southgate closed on 182/8 from 39.3 overs — a score that, while competitive, always looked slightly light given their reduced resources. The innings was characterised by Hoddesdon’s discipline: every run had to be earned, and catches were taken cleanly.

The Chase – Mason Lays the Platform, Strong and Kimberley Finish the Job
Needing 183 for victory from 40 overs, Hoddesdon approached the chase with calm assurance. Lowell Sr Mason and Nikunj Pradhan opened the innings and immediately set about eroding the target. Mason looked positive from the outset, driving through the covers and working the ball into gaps, while Pradhan provided stability at the other end.

Pradhan’s innings ended on 9, but he had played his role — seeing off the new ball and ensuring no early collapse. Mason, meanwhile, continued to accumulate runs in controlled fashion. His 42 was a combination of solid defence and opportunistic scoring, picking off anything overpitched and punishing the short ball.

When Mason fell, the score was already in a healthy position, setting the stage for Benjamin Strong and George Kimberley to see the job through. The pair batted with complete authority, both reaching unbeaten half-centuries.

Strong’s 53* was marked by fluent strokeplay, rotating the strike well and dispatching anything loose to the boundary. Kimberley matched him stroke for stroke, also finishing 53* and showing composure that belied the relatively modest target. With Southgate’s field spread thin due to their shortage of players, gaps were found regularly and running between the wickets was aggressive and calculated.

The winning runs came in the 31st over, Hoddesdon finishing on 185/2 in 30.3 overs, sealing a seven-wicket win and collecting the full 30 league points.

Stand-in Skipper Delivers
For Higgins, it was the perfect end to the day. His field settings were sharp, bowling changes well-timed, and the decision to bowl first was spot on given the circumstances. While he didn’t take a wicket himself, his control with the ball in the first spell set the tone for the entire innings.

In the post-match chat, Higgins was quick to credit his teammates:

“It was a really professional effort from everyone. We knew they were short on numbers, but you still have to do the basics right — and I think we did that with both bat and ball.”

League Implications
The result moves Hoddesdon 3rd XI to 5th place in the HPCL Division 12 East table with 217 points. With two teams, Datchworth and Preston, still within range above them, there is potential to climb higher before the season concludes.

For Southgate, the defeat leaves them 8th with 142 points, and they’ll be desperate to get a full side out in the coming weeks to avoid slipping further.

The Turning Points

• Winning the Toss – Higgins’ call to bowl first allowed Hoddesdon to dictate the game from the outset.
• Perera’s Early Breakthroughs – Broke Southgate’s top-order resistance and set them back early.
• Mason’s Opening Knock – Provided the platform for the middle order to finish without pressure.
• Strong & Kimberley Partnership – Unbeaten and untroubled, the pair put the game to bed with 53* apiece.

Score Summary
Southgate Adelaide CC 3rd XI – 182/8 (39.3 overs)
Buzec 2-26 (4), Mason 2-22 (7.1), Perera 2-35 (8), Bailey 1-22 (6)
Hoddesdon won the toss and elected to field.

Hoddesdon CC Saturday 3rd XI – 185/2 (30.3 overs)
Mason 42, Strong 53*, Kimberley 53*
Hoddesdon won by 7 wickets.

Hoddesdon’s 3rd XI will take huge confidence from this result. It wasn’t just a win — it was the manner of it: disciplined, efficient, and utterly professional from the first ball to the last. With the business end of the season approaching, this is exactly the type of performance they’ll want to replicate.

And in Higgins, they have the perfect deputy.

#GreenMachine