In a fixture arranged at short notice, it was BeSsborough CC who triumphed at Lowfield on Sunday afternoon, chasing down 242 with six wickets to spare in a free-scoring friendly that highlighted the very best of community cricket.

Hoddesdon Sunday XI, captained by Andrew Lewis, posted a competitive 241 for 8 in their 40 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat first. Paul Webb led the way with a graceful 81, while Lewis himself chipped in with a fluent 73. But a blistering 91 from Bessborough’s opener J Barot and a measured unbeaten fifty by Je Patel turned the tide, guiding the visitors to a well-earned win with 9.3 overs to spare.

It was a game full of moments, full of spirit, and full of runs — the perfect tonic for a summer’s Sunday.

Lewis calls right and Hoddesdon bat first
With Bessborough stepping in after Tewin CC were unable to raise a side, the match retained its friendly status — but Hoddesdon approached the fixture with intent. Andrew Lewis, skippering the home side for the afternoon, won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first.

The innings was opened by Paul Webb and Louis Webb, with contrasting fortunes from the outset. Louis fell early, bowled R Patel for a duck, but Paul quickly settled into his rhythm, showcasing classical strokeplay through the covers and down the ground.

Lewis joined him at the crease and the pair built an outstanding partnership, laying the platform for a formidable total. Lewis played with characteristic flair, regularly finding the boundary, and brought up his fifty in no time. Webb, meanwhile, was happy to rotate the strike and punish the loose ball, accumulating runs steadily as the Beesborough bowlers struggled to maintain consistent lines.

Their second-wicket partnership added 123 runs and took Hoddesdon to 133 before Lewis was dismissed, a ball bowled by J Barot and caught by a colleague, for a fine 73 off just 47 deliveries — a knock that included 13 fours and set the tempo beautifully.

Webb extends, middle order supports
With the loss of Lewis, the middle order came and went in bursts. Reece Jones (7), Clayton Stone (8), and Freddie Hawkins (0) were all dismissed in quick succession, as Hoddesdon briefly stumbled to 160 for 5.

But Paul Webb held firm. Calm under pressure, he continued to marshal and punish anything short, even as partners came and went. Eventually, his excellent innings came to an end — caught off the bowling of M Thakkar for 81 from 99 balls — a composed effort that underpinned the innings. Webb was greeted with warm applause as he exited the field, a scene we have seen on many Saturday's this season already.

Hoddesdon’s tail added vital runs. Charlie Tackley contributed 22, while Freddie Webb (10 not out) and Jack Bailey (2 not out) took Hoddesdon to a respectable 241 for 8 from their 40 overs. Extras made up a significant portion — 31 in total, including 19 wides — offering Bessborough cause for frustration.

The pick of the bowlers was D Patel with 3 for 51, while Barot (1-31) and Maheriya (1-42) each struck. Thakkar bowled a tidy two-over spell at the death, taking the important wicket of Webb and finishing with 1 for 5.

Barot’s blitz turns the tide
If Hoddesdon felt they had enough on the board, J Barot’s explosive response quickly turned those assumptions on their head. The Bessborough opener went on the attack from the first over, striking the ball cleanly and clearing the rope with effortless regularity. Partnered initially by D Patel (21), Barot raced to a half-century in under 30 balls and barely took his foot off the pedal. His 91 from just 54 balls featured 10 fours and 7 sixes — a scintillating innings that had spectators ducking for cover and bowlers scratching their heads.

Freddie Webb eventually broke the opening stand, catching D Patel in the 11th over off the bowling of Tackley, with the score on 99. But Barot continued to dominate until finally miscuing one to Tackley and falling short of a deserved century — caught for 91. His dismissal, taken off the bowling of Nirosh Perera, came as a huge relief to the hosts, but the damage had already been done. Beesborough were cruising at 133 for 2 in just the 17th over.

Calm heads see Bessborough home
Je Patel entered the fray with composure and intent, taking the reins of the chase after Barot’s exit. He batted fluently, finding the gaps and keeping the scoreboard moving, aided by a flurry of boundaries when needed. His 54 not out from 57 balls was the perfect counterbalance to the earlier fireworks. Dh Patel (42 off 26) maintained the pressure on Hoddesdon’s bowlers with some powerful striking of his own, before falling to a smart delivery from Perera — his second wicket.

A Maheriya added 14 before he was bowled by Freddie Hawkins, but by then Bessborough required fewer than 20 runs with ample overs in hand. Patel and M Thakkar saw the job through, reaching the target of 242 in the 31st over, sparking cheers from the visitors' bench.

Hoddesdon’s effort with the ball
Despite the outcome, Hoddesdon’s bowlers showed glimpses of control. Nirosh Perera was the pick of the bunch, finishing with 2 for 39 from 7.3 overs and removing both Barot and Dh Patel. He offered vital variation and stemmed the run flow just when Bessborough looked set to finish inside 25 overs. Freddie Webb went wicketless for 69 from his full allocation, scant reward for a tidy spell. Tackley and Bailey bowled tidy spells with the new ball, but Hoddesdon will reflect that too many extras (19) and a lack of early wickets allowed Bessborough to dictate terms throughout the second innings.

Captains’ reflections
Speaking after the match, Hoddesdon skipper Andrew Lewis was quick to acknowledge the quality of the opposition:

“Bessborough batted really well and fully deserved the win. Barot’s innings was game-changing. From our point of view, I was really pleased with our start — Paul Webb was outstanding and the lads put together a decent total. We just didn’t quite have enough answers with the ball once they got going.”

Bessborough’s Je Patel, who saw his side home, was full of praise for both teams:

“It was a really enjoyable match — thanks to Hoddesdon for hosting us. Everyone played in the right spirit and Barot’s knock gave us the perfect platform. Hopefully we can come back again soon.”

Key Performances

• Paul Webb: Anchored Hoddesdon’s innings with a composed 81, showing great temperament and timing.
• Andrew Lewis: Blasted 73 off 47 in a captain’s knock, setting the tone early for the hosts.
• J Barot: The standout performer — 91 from 54 balls, demolishing the new ball and demoralising the opposition.
• Je Patel: Held the chase together with an unbeaten 54, calm under pressure and perfectly paced.
• N Perera: The pick of Hoddesdon’s bowlers, claiming 2 for 39 and breaking vital partnerships.

Match Summary
Hoddesdon CC – 241/8 (40 overs)
Paul Webb 81 (99), Andrew Lewis 73 (47), Charlie Tackley 22 (28)
D Patel 3-51, M Thakkar 1-5, J Barot 1-31
Extras: 31 (19w, 12lb)

Bessborough CC – 242/4 (30.3 overs)
J Barot 91 (54), Je Patel 54* (57), Dh Patel 42 (26)
N Perera 2-39
Extras: 19 (14w, 4lb, 1nb)

Result: Bessborough CC won by 6 wickets
Venue: Lowfield, Hoddesdon
Date: Sunday, 15 June 2025
Umpire/Scorer: F. Lee

A spirited contest, a ton of runs, and a host of standout performances — this was Sunday cricket in full colour. While Hoddesdon will rue missed opportunities, there were plenty of positives to take forward. For Bessborough, it was an afternoon that showcased their batting firepower and earned them a thoroughly deserved win.

Friendly cricket at it's finest.

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