Froggett & Howe Lead Way to Impressive Hythe Win

A hard fought game between two decent sides on a good Hythe wicket with the home side coming out 4 wicket winners thanks to another solid all round performance led by Richie Froggett with the ball and Matt Howe with the bat.

Fielding first Hythe got on top early on with J.Weall & R.Froggett keeping the New Milton batsmen on their toes and within 15 overs Froggett had struck 3 times to leave the visitors 30-3 with P.Wakefield making 17 of them.

New Milton were in further trouble at 35 when Hythe change bowler M.Edwards removed J.Nicholls for 3, however M.Freeman was beginning a fine innings which would ultimately give the visitors a fighting chance. At 68 Edwards bowled S.Taylor 17 and P.Whitlock who was also now into the attack was again bowling well keeping Freeman in check. Freeman found some support from S.Tilbury to take the score to 117 before Whitlock had Tilbury caught by Luke Mills, Freeman went up a gear, already passed 50, he was now looking very threatening but Hythe brought back Weall who quickly accounted For J.Waller 2 at 134-7 and shortly afterwards Freeman got a big slice of luck off the unfortunate Whitlock but carried on attacking, at 143 Froggett run out T.Prodromo 2 and then returning to the attack he picked up his fourth wicket having S.Dyer-Smith caught by Whitlock for 2 leaving the visitors 156-9 and then Whitlock removed D.Wakefield 0 and New Milton were all out for 161 with Freeman a very fine 94 not out.

Chasing Hythe did not want to loose early wickets and thanks to skipper Simon Dixon the home side put on 39 before he fell for a breezy 28 having seen off the new ball attack of B.Neal & J.Waller, but New Milton kept working away and at 48 R.James fell for 9 and 10 runs later M.Edwards became Freeman's second victim.

Enter Matt Howe and the 18 year old playing only his second game as a top order bat at this level took control of the game dominating a 52 run partnership with K.James 11 putting Hythe were back in charge before James missed a full toss from young spinner Wakefield with Hythe on 110, E.Bell joined Howe who was now in top form passing 50 and the two young players took Hythe to the brink of victory before Howe fell at 143 for an excellent 64, Bell and Whitlock got Hythe up to 152 but the returning Freeman removed Bell for a well made 21.

Froggett came in blasted three quick boundaries and it was all over Hythe 165-6 reaching their target with 3 overs to spare.

Innings of : NEW MILTON 161 All Out (43.4 Overs)

Hythe Bowling

Innings of : HYTHE 165 For 6 (42 Overs)