Hoddesdon Cricket Club’s Fourth XI were beaten by eight wickets away to promotion-chasing Harlow Town Third XI on Saturday, but there were still plenty of reasons for captain Nirosh Perera and his side to leave Ash Tree Field with their heads held high. Against a Harlow side sitting second in Herts and Essex Border League Division Four, Hoddesdon batted through their full 40 overs to reach 138 for seven before the hosts chased down their target at 142 for two in 17.2 overs.

The final margin perhaps looked rather more comfortable than Hoddesdon’s efforts deserved, particularly after an excellent second-wicket partnership between Perera and George “Boris” Elsom had given the visitors a solid foundation with the bat. Perera led from the front with 57, Elsom recorded a career-best 31, young Freddie Lee picked up another senior wicket and Hoddesdon collected four league points from an afternoon which contained a number of encouraging individual performances.

Harlow had won the toss and elected to field, leaving Hoddesdon with the challenge of setting a competitive target against one of the division’s strongest bowling attacks. Veteran Neil “Pommers” Pomeroy opened the innings and made 10 from 20 deliveries, including two boundaries, before he was caught by George Campbell off Saraas Kanakan with the score on 18. That brought Elsom together with his skipper and the pair set about rebuilding the innings with patience and determination. The next 86 runs represented comfortably Hoddesdon’s strongest passage of the afternoon, with both batters showing the concentration required to withstand a disciplined Harlow attack and ensure their side remained competitive deep into the innings.

Perera once again demonstrated the leadership qualities which have been so important to the Fourth XI throughout 2026. His 57 came from 96 balls and included eight boundaries, with the captain prepared to absorb pressure, value his wicket and gradually accumulate runs rather than allowing the loss of an early wicket to trigger a collapse. Alongside him, Boris produced an innings that deserves plenty of recognition in its own right. Elsom’s 31 from 84 balls, containing five fours, was his highest score in senior cricket and therefore a new career best, surpassing his previous best performances and giving another indication of the progress he has made with the bat this year. Those who have shared a dressing room with Boris this season will know just how much enthusiasm he brings to the Fourth XI, and Saturday provided him with a well-earned personal milestone. His partnership with Perera moved Hoddesdon from 18 for one to 104 for two before Elsom was caught by Daniel Gleeson off the bowling of Sukhdeep Bal, ending a stand which had occupied a sizeable proportion of the innings and frustrated Harlow for a considerable period.

Boris Hit A Career Best 31 From 84 Balls

Sampathreddy Palepu then provided useful support to his captain, making 19 from 26 deliveries and helping Hoddesdon continue towards a respectable total. Having already produced one of the most memorable individual batting performances of the Fourth XI season earlier in the campaign, Sampathreddy again showed his ability to contribute useful runs before he became Kanakan’s second victim. Perera eventually departed for 57 with the total on 136, stumped by George Campbell off Daniel Gleeson after an innings which had held Hoddesdon together. His dismissal sparked a late burst of wickets, with Jack Bailey, Luke Mitchell and Connor Taylor all falling without scoring, but Amelia Wheatcroft and Freddie Lee remained unbeaten as the visitors reached 138 for seven from their 40 overs.

The Hoddesdon Batting Card

Extras also made a sizeable contribution to the Hoddesdon total, with Harlow conceding 21 in all, including 17 wides. Nevertheless, the main story of the innings was the way Perera and Elsom had applied themselves for such a long period and ensured that Hoddesdon could take three batting bonus points from the contest. Harlow’s bowling attack showed exactly why the side has spent much of the summer towards the top of the table. Saraas Kanakan was outstanding, returning figures of three for 11 from seven overs with four maidens, while Daniel Gleeson claimed three for 18 from four overs and Sukhdeep Bal finished with one for 24 from five. There was also impressive economy from Hansal Dave, who conceded only 24 runs from eight overs, and Richard Lavelle, whose eight overs cost just 23. Hoddesdon therefore had to work extremely hard for almost every run, making the long partnership between Perera and Boris all the more creditable.

Defending 138 against a powerful Harlow batting order was always likely to require an exceptional bowling performance, and the hosts quickly demonstrated the confidence of a team battling at the top end of the division. Alex Manning and Ash Mohammed put on 53 for the first wicket, with both players finding the boundary regularly and pushing the required rate firmly in Harlow’s favour. There was still an excellent moment for Freddie Lee when the youngster provided Hoddesdon’s first breakthrough. Manning had made 34 from 32 balls, striking eight fours, before Lee found the edge and Luke Mitchell completed the catch, giving Freddie another deserved senior wicket. Lee’s contribution should not be overlooked simply because of the eventual result, particularly given the quality of opposition he was bowling against. He finished with one for 33 from five overs and has continued to gain valuable experience throughout a season in which the Fourth XI has played an important role in giving younger players opportunities in adult cricket.

Freddie Lee

Mohammed continued to attack and reached 48 from 41 deliveries, including six fours and a six, before Perera removed him with Jack Bailey taking the catch. That left Harlow on 119 for two, but by then the hosts were within touching distance of their target and Jack Flowers ensured there would be no dramatic late turnaround. Flowers finished unbeaten on 40 from 31 balls with nine boundaries, while Daniel Hawkins (not that one...) struck two fours in his three-ball unbeaten eight. Harlow reached 142 for two after 17.2 overs to seal an eight-wicket victory and collect the maximum 20 points, while Hoddesdon’s three batting points and one bowling point meant they left Ash Tree Field with four points for their efforts.

Saturday’s results leave Harlow Town Third XI second in Division Four with 240 points from 15 matches, just 15 behind leaders Bishop’s Stortford 1825s on 255. North Weald sit third on 202, next weekend’s opponents Sawbridgeworth are fourth on 192 and St Margaretsbury remain close behind on 190, meaning there is still plenty to be decided at the top of the division on the final weekend. Hoddesdon remain ninth with 92 points, behind Harlow Fifth XI on 135, Stansted on 160 and Dunmow on 165. The league table may show that this has been a demanding campaign for the Fourth XI, but simply judging their season by points and positions would overlook much of what the team has achieved in terms of development, individual improvement and providing opportunities across the club.

HEBL Division 4

One particularly impressive statistic is the Fourth XI’s contribution to the Greene King Level Head Green Jacket, with the side now having produced five Green Jacket-winning performances during the season. Freddie Lee claimed the honour away to North Weald, Perera won it at home to Stansted, Boris took the jacket following the home game against Harlow Town, Sampathreddy Palepu earned it away to Harlow CC and Perera has now become the Fourth XI’s first two-time winner after his 57 at Harlow Town on Saturday. Five Green Jackets from one team is something the Fourth XI can take enormous pride in, particularly because those awards have been spread across young players, experienced campaigners and individuals developing their game at senior level. It demonstrates that even during a season containing difficult results, there have been plenty of outstanding personal performances and plenty of Saturdays on which Fourth XI players have made significant contributions.

Nirosh Claimed His Second And The 4th XI's Fifth Green Jacket Of The Season

Perera’s latest Green Jacket was richly deserved after an innings in which he took responsibility from the front, and the captain remained positive afterwards despite the defeat. “Harlow are a very strong team and they showed why they are right up near the top of the league, but I thought there were still a lot of positives for us,” said Nirosh. “To bat our 40 overs against that attack and put 138 on the board took a lot of hard work, and I thought there were periods where we competed really well.”

The skipper was particularly delighted by Elsom’s career-best innings and another promising contribution from Lee. “I was really pleased for Boris because he batted brilliantly, showed a lot of patience and thoroughly deserved his career-best score,” Perera added. “Freddie getting another wicket was great to see as well because every time our younger players play at this level they are gaining experience, learning and improving, and that is exactly what we want from this side.”

Perera has himself deserved plenty of credit for the way he has marshalled the Fourth XI throughout the season. Captaining a lower XI can involve constantly changing personnel, blending youth and experience and ensuring that players continue to enjoy their cricket through both the good Saturdays and the difficult ones, and Nirosh has approached that challenge with enthusiasm, encouragement and a determination to keep the side moving forward.

“We have had some really good days this season and we have had some tough ones, but everyone has kept going and kept supporting each other,” he said. “There is one game left now and we want to enjoy it, compete properly and hopefully produce a performance that gives us something positive to finish the season with.”

The Skipper Is Hoping To Finish The Season Off With A Flourish

That final opportunity comes next Saturday when fourth-placed Sawbridgeworth Fourth XI visit Thundridge for the last game of the 2026 campaign. Sawbridgeworth will arrive after an eight-wicket victory over Harlow Fifth XI in which they chased 160 for the loss of only two wickets, so Perera’s side will once again face strong opposition and another excellent test. For Hoddesdon, though, the aim will be to finish a season of highs and lows with the same spirit that has characterised so much of their cricket this year. There have been victories, Green Jackets, career-best performances, youngsters taking important steps in senior cricket and plenty of building blocks put in place for the future, and one final positive performance would be a fitting way for Nirosh and his Fourth XI to bring the curtain down on 2026.

We wish them all the very best.

#GreenMachine