Hoddesdon Cricket Club’s 4th XI begin the final month of their Herts and Essex Border League Division Four campaign with a trip to Hargrave Park on Saturday, where they will face Stansted CC’s 2nd XI in a 1pm start. With just four matches remaining, captain Nirosh Perera and his developing side will be looking to respond positively to last weekend’s defeat at St Margaretsbury and reproduce the determined cricket that carried them to victory over Stansted earlier in the season.

The Fourths remain at the foot of the table, but their league position tells only part of the story of a season built around opportunity, patience and the development of younger players in senior cricket. The side have recorded three victories from 12 completed matches and have collected 95 points, only one behind eighth-placed Harlow 5th XI and 11 adrift of Dunmow in seventh. Stansted sit sixth on 127 points after four wins and eight defeats, so another Hoddesdon victory would reduce the gap and provide an important lift entering the closing weeks of the campaign.

HEBL Division 4

Perera’s team have experienced some difficult afternoons, but they have also produced one of the most memorable results anywhere in the club this summer. Sampathreddy Palepu’s magnificent unbeaten 144 powered Hoddesdon to an extraordinary four-wicket victory over Harlow, chasing 297 and reaching 298 for six with five balls remaining. That performance demonstrated what this side can achieve when partnerships are built, pressure is absorbed and confidence is allowed to grow. Palepu returns to the team this weekend and his presence provides considerable strength to the middle order. His unbeaten century remains fresh in the memory and should give the younger players further belief that no game is beyond them when someone takes responsibility and bats deep into the innings. He will be joined by veteran Neil Martin Pomeroy, whose experience, enthusiasm and understanding of the game add another important voice to a team containing players at very different stages of their cricketing journeys.

Sampath Again, Olé Olé

“We know the table does not look how we would like it to look, but there has been so much development within this group,” said captain Perera. “Players have been asked to bat in unfamiliar positions, bowl meaningful overs and make decisions under pressure. Those experiences are going to benefit them enormously, and our aim now is to finish the season strongly and keep showing the progress that has been made.”

THE HODDESDON XI

Hoddesdon’s starting side is Neil Martin Pomeroy, Nirosh Perera, Arthur Brown, Jack Bailey, Sampathreddy Palepu, George Elsom, Oscar Ramsdale, Lee Ellerbeck, Connor Taylor, Chunot Shah and George Viggars. Perera will captain the team, while Taylor takes the wicketkeeping gloves.

The inclusion of newcomer Ramsdale provides another fresh face in a season during which the Fourths have continued to offer senior cricket to players from across the club. He enters a side containing a useful combination of youth, experience and established Fourth XI regulars, with Perera hoping that each player can make a clear contribution rather than carrying unnecessary pressure into the fixture. Pomeroy’s return adds decades of cricketing knowledge to the top of the order and gives Hoddesdon another calm presence around the group. His role will not simply be measured by runs, because the encouragement and advice he can offer Brown, Viggars, Ramsdale and the other developing players could prove equally valuable throughout the afternoon.

Neil Pomeroy Returns To Action This Saturday

Brown has shown real maturity during recent weeks, particularly when asked to occupy the crease against the new ball and provide stability. Viggars continues to gain valuable experience with both bat and ball, while Taylor’s work behind the stumps gives him another opportunity to influence the match through his energy, communication and concentration.

Arthur Brown And George Viggars Have Given The Club A Real Glimpse Of The Future

“The balance of the side is really encouraging,” added Perera. “We have Pommers coming back with all his experience, Sampathreddy returning after an innings nobody at the club will forget, and several young players who are improving every time they play. The important thing is that everyone understands their role and feels able to express themselves.”

STANSTED’S DANGER MEN

Stansted possess several proven performers, with Adam Curtis leading their run-scoring charts for the season. Curtis has made 308 runs from 13 innings, including four not-outs and a highest score of 103 not out. His average of 34.22 underlines his consistency, and his ability to bat for long periods makes him one of the most important wickets in the Stansted line-up.

Ryan Cope has scored 284 runs at an average of 40.57, reaching a best of 91 and recording two half-centuries. Daniel Hanna has accumulated 254 runs from only three innings, including scores of 126 and 88, while Oscar Clark has made 228 runs and struck a century of his own. David Wheatley has also been dangerous, scoring 169 runs at 42.25 and operating at a strike rate above 126. There is therefore no shortage of batting quality for Hoddesdon to contend with. The challenge for Bailey, Elsom and the supporting attack will be to maintain discipline for long spells, avoid offering easy scoring opportunities and create pressure through partnerships rather than searching for a perfect delivery every ball.

Stansted’s bowling has been led by David Powter, who has taken 12 wickets from 78.1 overs at an economy rate of 3.72. Ryan Cope has eight wickets, Wheatley seven and Toby Berry six, while Miles McCarthy has claimed five at an average of 16.60. Adam Curtis also enters the game in good form after returning season-best figures of four for 10 against Sawbridgeworth on July 18. Powter’s control is likely to test Hoddesdon’s patience, while Cope and Wheatley offer further threats through the middle stages. The Fourths will need to value their wickets, rotate the strike and avoid allowing Stansted’s bowlers to settle into long periods of pressure.

Stansted Named A Strong Side The Last Time These Two Teams Met

RECENT FORM

Stansted have endured an inconsistent run of results. They were beaten by seven wickets at North Weald last weekend after posting 109 for six from their 40 overs, but the previous Saturday brought a narrow four-run win over Sawbridgeworth. Earlier in July, they lost by 71 runs against St Margaretsbury and were dismissed for 92 before Harlow Town completed a six-wicket victory. Hoddesdon’s recent form has also fluctuated. The extraordinary win over Harlow was followed by a seven-wicket defeat against North Weald and last weekend’s ten-wicket loss at St Margaretsbury, where the Fourths were dismissed for 87 before the hosts chased the target without losing a wicket. Those results underline the need for greater consistency with the bat, but the Harlow performance remains clear evidence that this side is capable of producing excellent cricket.

Stansted's Recent Results Are A Mixed Bag

“The result last week was difficult, and we cannot pretend otherwise, but one performance does not define this group,” said Perera. “We have already shown that we can beat good teams and chase a very big score. Saturday is another opportunity to compete, support each other and put into practice what we have learned.”

LAST TIME OUT

Hoddesdon can travel with confidence from the previous meeting between the sides, having defeated Stansted by 12 runs at Thundridge on May 30. The Fourths made 213 all out in 35.4 overs before restricting Stansted to 201 for six from their full allocation.

Perera led from the front with 54 from 60 balls, striking seven fours and a six. Aoylid Hossain added an attacking 44 from 37 deliveries, Nikunj Pradhan made 40 and Bailey contributed 30 from only 26 balls. Those four innings allowed Hoddesdon to build a competitive total despite being bowled out before the end of their allotted overs. With the ball, Bailey returned two for 40 and Mick Billson claimed two for 33, while Hossain and Freddie Lee took one wicket apiece. Ellerbeck produced an excellent five-over spell that cost only 12 runs, creating pressure at one end and helping the other bowlers attack. Stansted finished 12 short despite batting through their 40 overs, providing Hoddesdon with a valuable and deserved win.

That match offers a useful blueprint for Saturday. Hoddesdon scored through several contributors rather than relying upon one innings, and the bowling unit worked collectively to defend the target. A repeat will require similar discipline, particularly against a Stansted batting line-up containing players with centuries and substantial season totals.

Nirosh's Side Won A Tight Contest At The End Of May

Bailey and Elsom will be central to the bowling plan and are both capable of producing important breakthroughs. Bailey has regularly delivered demanding spells for the Fourths, while Elsom brings determination and wicket-taking intent whenever he has the ball in hand. Ellerbeck’s enthusiasm gives the team another option with both bat and ball, and his ability to increase the tempo could be particularly useful during the middle or closing stages of the innings. Shah was Hoddesdon’s leading scorer at St Margaretsbury with 20 and will be keen to build upon that contribution. His willingness to compete during a difficult batting display was one of the few bright moments from the defeat, and he has another opportunity to turn that resilience into a longer innings at Hargrave Park.

George Elsom And Jack Bailey Will Play An Important Role

Conditions are expected to be pleasant, with temperatures in the mid-20s and none of the oppressive heat experienced during several recent fixtures. That should allow both sides to maintain their energy throughout the afternoon and place the emphasis firmly upon the quality of their cricket.

“This group has four matches left, and we want to make the most of every one of them,” concluded Perera. “There are still victories to play for, but there are also partnerships to build, overs to bowl and lessons to learn. I have complete faith that the players will give everything for each other, and that is the foundation we want to carry into Saturday and beyond.”

FIXTURE SUMMARY

Fixture: Stansted CC 2nd XI v Hoddesdon CC 4th XI
Date: Saturday, August 1, 2026
Start: 1pm
Venue: Hargrave Park, Cambridge Road, Stansted, Essex, CM24 8BY
Competition: Herts and Essex Border League Division Four
League Positions: Stansted sixth; Hoddesdon ninth
Weather: Dry and pleasantly warm, with temperatures in the mid-20s
Stansted players to watch: Adam Curtis, Ryan Cope, Daniel Hanna, Oscar Clark, David Powter and David Wheatley
Hoddesdon players to watch: Sampathreddy Palepu, Nirosh Perera, Jack Bailey, George Elsom and Lee Ellerbeck