Hampshire County Division 2

Ryde vs Hythe & Dibden 1st XI

7th June Played on the Island

Gallant Hythe Come Up Just Short In Big Run Chase  

On a lovely day in Ryde and on a road of a strip Hythe came close to pulling off a record run chase with fine efforts from all the batsmen, but this covered over the cracks yet again away from home with Hythe's fielding as 4 more dropped catches cost them dearly.  

Winning the toss Ryde batted first and their openers R.Burrell in particular and R.Wilson got on top quickly, racing away to 40 from just 8 overs despite some tidy work from Simon Wright.

After 10 overs the returning Ben Kendrick was introduced in an attempt to give Hythe some control but initially nothing seemed to be able to stop the run flow, Luke Mills came on and soon forced Burrell in to an error but Hythe could not hang on to the chance and Ryde cruised past 100 without loss. In the 19th over. Kendrick finally removed Burrell for an aggressive 56, but Wilson and Ryde captain L.Tolfey pushed the home side past 150. Paul Whitlock replacing the luckless Mills then bowled Wilson for 51 and shortly afterwards removed Ryde's overseas L.Morkel for 3 to give Hythe a boost but when he then had the impressive Tolfey dropped the game swung back Rydes way.

Tolfey hit a fine 55 before the returning Weall had him caught by Mills but a quick-fire 43 from A.Day and a supporting 23 from Whitefield enabled Ryde to make an imposing 257-5.  

Hythe skipper Simon Dixon gave Hythe the sort of start they needed making a good looking 28 as Hythe put on 48 for the opening wicket from 9 overs, but runs became hard to come by over the next few overs and just as they got going again Matt Howe was bowled by Tolfey for 15, and shortly afterwards Rob James fell to Morkel for 42 as Hythe slipped to 89-3 from 23 overs, however the visitors were not about to go down without a fight.

Simon Wright and Kev James took charge putting on an excellent 93 partnership with Wrighty making a very fine 50 taking Hythe to 182-4, but overs were running out and something special was still needed Ben Kendrick joined James and they took the score to 197 before James was caught in the deep from the bowling of Day for 41. Kendrick then blasted the ball to all parts in a brutal 41 to almost pull of an amazing win but when he fell at 233 becoming Day's second wicket Hythe only had 10 balls left Ewan Bell was run out off the penultimate ball for 7 as Hythe came up just short on 238-7.

Toss Won by : Ryde

Innings of : RYDE 257 For 5 (45 Overs)

Hythe Bowling.

Innings of : HYTHE 170 All Out (44.4 Overs)

Ryde Bowling.