Murray steals the show, as Hoddy secure back-to-back wins!

Hoddesdon’s 3rd XI secured back-to-back league victories with a fine 35-run win against Stevenage 5th XI at St Christopher’s School on Saturday. Hoddesdon skipper Josh Gorton lost the toss and for the second week in succession, Hoddy were asked to bat first.

Hayden Brown was dismissed early on after an unfortunate ricocheted on to the stumps, but Rich Youngman and Max Murray stabilised proceedings as Hoddesdon moved to 52-1 after 17 overs. Nevertheless, the visitors suffered a dramatic collapse in the next over after losing three wickets.

Stevenage’s Max Peebles bowled Youngman for 18. Before both Jeswin Samuel and Peter Draisey were dismissed for ducks, leaving Hoddy teetering at 53-4. However, Hoddy responded well as Neil Conner and Max Murray produced a quick-fire 49 partnership off just 7 overs, as Murray secured his maiden league 50 with a delightful cover drive.

Conner was bowled for 18 from just 17 balls, but Jordan Harrison played a nice cameo before being bowled by Ian Welch for 10. Aidan McElligott joined Murray at the crease and they produced a fantastic 50 partnership to leave the 3s well placed on 175-6 off 36 overs.

Murray was batting sublimely and appeared poised to secure his maiden century, but he was bowled by Phil Harrow just one short of his century, for 99. However, it was a wonderfully mature innings that gave Hoddy a strong chance of securing victory.

McElligott was joined by Joe Duke for the remaining 3 overs and the pair put on 26, with McElligott finishing 26 not out, and Duke finishing 5 not out, as Hoddesdon posted 201-7 from their 40 overs.

In response, Hoddesdon began very strongly by reducing the hosts to 26-3 after 7 overs. Murray replicated his batting heroics with the ball, by clean-bowling Ian Welch, Glynn Williams and James Thompson.

Stevenage opener John Mould was batting aggressively and he was well supported by his captain Richard Sullivan. The pair put on 40, before Mould was caught at deep-mid-on by Gorton off the bowling of Jeswin Samuel.

Joe Duke and Jeswin Samuel bowled well in tandem as the visitors attempted to tighten the screw, but Sullivan and Kaleb Shaw put on a stand of 55, as the hosts moved to 121-4; requiring 81 runs to win from 12 overs.

However, Sullivan was bowled by Josh Gorton for 28 in the following over, and this saw the hosts’ run rate decline considerably. Hayden Brown and Gorton bowled economically in tandem and Brown picked up a deserved wicket, as Simon Wood top-edged his shot to Gorton at short-cover.

Max Murray returned to complete his eight-over spell and finished with figures of 8 overs, 3-20, in what was a stunning all-round performance. Stevenage batted well but didn’t quite have the fire-power to secure victory and they finished on 166-6 from their allotted 40 overs.

However it was a gritty performance from the 3s, who dug in well to secure their second victory of the season. Next week, Hoddesdon face Cheshunt, who have also gained maximum points from their opening two fixtures.