Hoddesdon Cricket Club’s Saturday 3rd XI travel to Newgate Street this weekend looking to continue one of the most impressive late-season surges in Division 12 East. After three wins in a row against Letchworth Garden City, Hitchin and Potters Bar, the 3s now face bottom-of-the-table Hatfield and Crusaders with confidence high and promotion hopes still alive.

The match takes place on Saturday 22nd August, with a 1pm start at Newgate Street, and the weather is expected to be much more comfortable than some of the recent drought-hit Saturdays. Low to mid-20s should make for a good afternoon of cricket, although both sides will still be hoping the surface holds up after weeks of very dry conditions across Hertfordshire.

Hoddesdon arrive in fifth place on 320 points from 15 matches, with eight wins, six defeats and one cancellation. Hitchin remain top on 371, Enfield sit second on 352, Datchworth are third on 351, and Potters Bar occupy fourth on 324, meaning Hoddesdon are now only four points off fourth and still within reach of the top three if results fall kindly over the final three rounds. That position has been earned by a superb response to a difficult mid-season spell. The 3rd XI had looked in danger of drifting after defeats to Bayford & Hertford and Preston, but they bounced back brilliantly with a 57-run win over Letchworth, a stunning 155-run victory away to league leaders Hitchin, and then a gritty 34-run success over Potters Bar at Hertingfordbury.

Hoddesdon Are Chasing A Top 3 Finish

The Potters Bar win was especially important because it came against the side immediately above Hoddesdon in the table. Nikunj Pradhan made 59, Mark Feely added 46, and captain Louis Webb then claimed his first ever five-wicket haul with 5-22 as Hoddesdon defended 191-9 by bowling Potters Bar out for 157. Ash Hill also starred with 4-28, and the result made it three wins from three in the late-season push the squad had targeted.

This week there is a change in leadership, with Louis Webb away on holiday after his Green Jacket-winning performance last Saturday. In his absence, experienced head Ross Maughan captains the side, and as a former 3rd XI captain himself, the team should be in safe hands for a fixture Hoddesdon know they cannot afford to take lightly.

Maughan said: “Louis has done a brilliant job with this group, and the last three weeks have shown what the side is capable of. My job this weekend is to keep that momentum going, make sure we stay switched on, and remind everyone that Hatfield being bottom does not mean anything once the game starts.”

He added: “We have worked hard to get ourselves back into a position where the table looks interesting again, so Saturday is another chance to keep pressure on the teams above us. We have quality throughout the side, but we need to earn the win properly and respect the fact Hatfield have players who can hurt you if you let the game drift.”

Ross Maughan Will Skipper The Side In Place Of Louis Webb

Hatfield and Crusaders sit 10th in the table on 151 points from 15 matches, with two wins, 11 defeats, one cancellation and one team conceded result against them. Their league position tells one story, but their bonus points tell another, because they have collected 44 batting bonus points and 47 bowling bonus points, which suggests they have often competed for periods even when results have not gone their way.

Their recent form has been mixed and frustrating. Last weekend they were bowled out for 104 by Enfield, who chased the target without losing a wicket in 15.5 overs, while the previous week Hatfield conceded against Potters Bar. Before that, they were beaten by Hitchin after making 142, but they also picked up a strong one-wicket win over Letchworth Garden City on 25th July, chasing 142-8 after bowling Letchworth out for 141.

The Host's Recent Form Is A Mixed Bag

Hoddesdon will also remember that Hatfield pushed them very hard in the reverse fixture on 20th June. On that day at Newgate Street, Hatfield batted first and made 143-7 from their 40 overs, with Nikhil Jonnalagadda making 58 not out and Sharaaz Jaffar adding 32. Hoddesdon eventually got home by two wickets, reaching 144-8 in 37 overs thanks largely to Paul Webb’s excellent 50 and a decisive late burst from Dan Billson, who smashed 28 from just 12 balls. That reverse fixture should be warning enough that Saturday will need proper focus. Hoddesdon won the game, but they had to work extremely hard for it, and Hatfield showed enough quality with both bat and ball to make the chase awkward. With the season now in its final stretch, Maughan’s side will want to avoid any repeat of that late tension.

Hoddesdon Won By Two Wickets Back In June

The selected Hoddesdon side is Ross Maughan, Nikunj Pradhan, Dharshana Keerthichandra, Mark Feely, Dan Billson, Reece Jones, Tyler Burroughs, Caleb Harding, Henry Taylor, Monty McCullagh and Scott Higgins. It is a strong XI with batting depth, bowling variety and plenty of experience, although it is still unknown who will keep wicket, with Ross having done the job before and more than capable of taking the gloves if required. Maughan’s own role will be important at the top of the order and in the field. He has had a quieter season by his own standards with 100 runs from 10 innings, but he remains a calm and experienced cricketer who knows the rhythm of 3rd XI cricket well. If he does take the gloves, his organisation and communication will be just as important as his runs.

Nikunj Pradhan has been one of Hoddesdon’s key men in recent weeks and goes into the game in outstanding touch. He sits third in the team’s batting charts with 185 runs from five innings at an average of 37.00, and his last two major contributions, 65 against Hitchin and 59 against Potters Bar, have both been central to important victories.

Mark Feely remains Hoddesdon’s leading run scorer this season with 236 runs from eight innings at an average of 29.50. His 51 against Hitchin was his highest score for the club on record, and he followed that with a valuable 46 against Potters Bar, showing exactly why he is such a vital middle-order presence. Dan Billson makes a rare appearance and brings real quality to the side. His name already appears on the club hall of fame graphic for the highest strike rate, and his 28 from 12 balls in the reverse fixture against Hatfield showed how quickly he can change a game. If Hoddesdon need late acceleration or someone to take pressure off the set batters, Billson’s inclusion could be a major factor.

The 3rd XI Hall Of Fame This Season

Reece Jones also continues after a superb recent run of form. His unbeaten 46 against Letchworth was followed by a first-ever club fifty, 57 not out against Hitchin, and although he made only 3 against Potters Bar, his season tally of 173 runs and strike rate of 113.07 show the attacking intent he brings. Hatfield will know that if Reece gets in, the scoring rate can change very quickly. Tyler Burroughs adds experience and all-round ability, while Dharshana Keerthichandra brings further batting depth after an important 21 against Potters Bar last week. Caleb Harding is another promising young player in the side, and his continued selection reflects the club’s willingness to trust younger cricketers in meaningful league fixtures. The balance of the side looks strong, and there are options for Maughan whatever situation develops.

With the ball, Hoddesdon again look dangerous. Scott Higgins has been one of the standout performers of the season, with 15 wickets from 61.1 overs at an economy rate of just 2.94, while Henry Taylor has nine wickets at a brilliant average of 7.89 and a best of 4-9. Monty McCullagh bowled well without reward against Potters Bar, and he will be looking to turn control into wickets this time around. The absence of Louis Webb removes the division’s leading Hoddesdon wicket-taker from the side, with Webb having 23 wickets for the season, but the attack still has enough quality to trouble Hatfield. Higgins’ pace, Taylor’s control, Monty’s discipline, Caleb’s options and the support of Burroughs, Dharshana and others should give Maughan plenty to work with.

Scott Higgins Will Play A Crucial Role With Ball In Hand

Hoddesdon’s season stats underline the spread of contributions in this squad. Feely leads the batting with 236 runs, Webb has 213, Pradhan has 185, Jones has 173, Paul Webb has 147, and Ross Maughan has reached 100. The top individual knocks include Bilal Ahmad’s 72 not out against Preston, Pradhan’s 65 against Hitchin, Pradhan’s 59 against Potters Bar, Jones’ 57 not out at Hitchin and Feely’s 51 in that same memorable win. The bowling figures are just as encouraging. Webb leads with 23 wickets, Higgins has 15, Benjamin Strong has 12, Dan Hawkins has 10, Henry Taylor has nine, Paul Webb has nine, Mick Billson has seven and Ash Hill has six. Even without several of those names this week, the 3rd XI have shown throughout the season that wickets can come from different areas.

Mark Feely Is Top Of The Tree For Runs This Season

Hatfield’s biggest batting threat appears to be Nikhil Jonnalagadda, who has 286 runs from six innings at an excellent average of 71.50. He has already made three fifties this season, including 81 not out against Preston, 58 not out against Hoddesdon in the reverse fixture, and 56 against Hitchin, so his wicket will be one of the key early targets. Barry Phillips is another obvious danger, with 258 runs from 13 innings, a high score of 70 and an average of 32.25. Martin Webster has also had a strong season, making 247 runs in eight innings, including Hatfield’s highest individual score of the year, 93 against Bayford & Hertford. If those three get going, Hatfield have enough batting quality to post a competitive total despite their league position.

Sharaaz Jaffar, Keven Whitehead, Alan Jakes, Lino D’Souza, Ashok Vaddarapu, Charles D’Souza and Gralino D’Souza have also contributed at different stages of the campaign. Their averages may not match the top three, but lower-order runs can be decisive in Division 12 East cricket, and Hoddesdon will want to stay ruthless once early wickets fall.

With the ball, Tony Jakes is Hatfield’s standout performer. He has taken 11 wickets from 34.2 overs at an average of 10.27, with best figures of 6-17 against Preston and one five-wicket haul to his name. His economy rate of 3.29 shows he can control games, and Hoddesdon’s batters will need to be patient if he gets into a rhythm. Sharaaz Jaffar has six wickets, while Nikhil Jonnalagadda and Barry Phillips have five each, with Phillips producing 4-15 against Letchworth. Martin Webster has four wickets, and Omkar Gandhi, Arjun Mettu and Vinayak Saike have three apiece, so Hatfield do have several bowlers capable of making inroads. Their challenge has been putting complete performances together, but Hoddesdon cannot assume that will continue.

It's Been A Tough Season For The Hosts With No Win In June, July and August

Maughan said: “The danger with a game like this is that people look at the table and think it will just happen, but cricket does not work like that. They have batters who have made serious runs, bowlers with good numbers, and they gave us a tough game last time, so we need to turn up with the same attitude we have had over the last three weeks.”

He continued: “The boys should be confident because three wins in a row is a great effort, but confidence has to come with standards. We have spoken about trying to finish the season strongly, and that means doing the basics properly, backing each other, and not letting the game drift at any stage.”

For Hoddesdon, the target is clear enough without needing to overcomplicate the afternoon. Win again, make it four in a row, and keep pushing Potters Bar, Datchworth and Enfield above them. Lose, and the hard work of the last three weeks becomes much harder to turn into a top-three finish. The 3rd XI have played some excellent cricket in August, and there is a real sense of momentum around the group. The batting has found rhythm, the bowling has been incisive, and the side has rediscovered the togetherness that carried them through earlier wins in the season. Saturday at Hatfield is another test of whether that belief can travel.

There is still plenty to play for, and with only three matches remaining, every point matters. Hoddesdon have given themselves a chance by winning three straight games, and now they must try to extend that run against a Hatfield side who will be desperate to spoil the charge. If Maughan’s men get the job done at Newgate Street, the final two weekends of the season could be very interesting indeed.

#GreenMachine