The opening weekend of the 2026 competitive season got off to a strong start for the 1st XI, who progressed in both the Hamro League Cup and the ECB National Club Competition.
On Saturday, we welcomed Goresbrook to The Lodge for the 1st Round of the League Cup. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Muz fell cheaply, but a superb 125-run partnership between debutant Usman and Hanko put us in a commanding position. Usman struck his maiden half-century for the club—50 from 57 balls, including seven fours—while Hanko anchored the innings in style.

Hanko continued to find the boundary with ease, bringing up his 19th century for the club from 97 balls, before falling the very next delivery. Sam departed for 2, bringing Harry Hankins to the crease. Harry and Adeel then added a blistering 79 from the final 35 balls, helping us post an imposing 280/4 from our allotted overs. Adeel finished unbeaten on 62 (44), while Harry’s explosive 49* came from just 17 balls, including five sixes.
In reply, former HCC player Barwick top-scored with 43, but the visitors had no answer to Adeel’s brilliance with the ball. He returned outstanding figures of 5/34 as Goresbrook were bowled out for 145, securing a 135-run victory and a home tie against Belhus in the next round.

Elsewhere on Saturday, the 2nd XI suffered a heavy defeat at Benfleet in the newly formed Hamro Plate. Home skipper Powell led the way with an impressive 70 as Benfleet posted 246/4. In response, we struggled to build any momentum, with only Frankie (10) and extras (11) reaching double figures, as we were dismissed for 41.

At Cromer Road, there was a memorable debut for Shehzad as the 3rd XI edged past Belhus in a thrilling contest. Having won the toss and elected to field, Mr Ullah produced a superb spell of 5-2-11-5 to reduce the visitors to 33/5. A brief recovery saw Belhus reach 136.
In reply, the chase looked unlikely at 92/9. However, Shehzad—having already claimed five wickets—combined with Aman to produce a remarkable last-wicket stand of 45, guiding the side to victory by the narrowest of margins.

On Sunday, Bedford Park visited for the 2nd Preliminary Round of the ECB National Club Cup. The visitors won the toss and chose to bat, reaching 133/2 before Whitlock turned the game on its head. Rolling back the years, he produced a superb spell of 7/44 to bowl Bedford Park out for 185. The innings was wrapped up in style by the club chairman, who claimed a hat-trick to record his second-best figures for the club—just shy of his 8/66 against Leigh-on-Sea 13 years ago.

In response, Muz provided a solid start, but wickets fell in quick succession as we slipped to 44/2. A match-defining partnership of 111 between Hanko and Usman then put us firmly in control. Usman completed his second half-century of the weekend (56), while Hanko brought up his 38th fifty for HCC.

The chase was finished emphatically, with George and Les smashing 31 from just 10 balls as we secured victory by seven wickets with nearly 11 overs to spare.
We now welcome Horsford to Harrow Lodge on Sunday 10th May, after they defeated Harold Wood by five wickets.

With the sun shining, the opening weekend of the season proved a successful one—hopefully a sign of things to come.