Hampshire County Division 2

Hythe & Dibden XI vs PURBROOK & PORTSDOWN

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21st June Played @ Jones Lane.

Froggett Stars As Hythe Pull Of Amazing Win         

In an incredible turnaround led by Richard Froggett - Hythe the home side came back from 42-6 to beat Purbrook by 5 runs, with Froggett making a fabulous 98 and taking 4-44 and he was given great support by Luke Mills 23 and Paul Whitlock 3-30.  

Hythe were always going to be up against it after losing the toss and being put into bat on a damp wicket following overnight rain and some drizzle prior to the start, and Hythe's worst fears were soon realised as despite Simon Dixon & Rob James taking the home side to 23 without to many problems, when Dixon was caught behind for 8 to a lifter from D. Cleeve it was the start of a collapse. Matt Howe played to early and was bowled for 1, Rob James was lbw for 17, and then incredibly Kev James 1 gloved a nasty rising delivery behind Simon Wright 9 edged a rising ball to slip and Paul Whitlock 2 got another snorter gloving behind.

Purbrook opening bowlers C.Berry & D.Cleeve had reduced Hythe to 42-6 in bowler friendly conditions. Dennis Wheeler 10 helped Richie Froggie take the score to 75 before Wheeler became Berry's 5th wicket, but when surprisingly Purbrook took off Cleeve following a Froggett counter attack the back-up bowlers on a drying wicket were far less of a threat and Froggett now supported by Luke Mills amazingly got Hythe back into the game and with plenty of overs to play with Froggie cleverly kept the score ticking over. Hythe soon passed the 100 mark and young Mills was also playing well, Froggett brought up a fine 50 and Hythe were now taking control of the game and Purbrook were starting to look anxious in the field. Froggett increased the tempo as the pair put on a superb 107 partnership before Mills fell to C.Marsh for an important 23. Richie playing his finest innings for the First's looked like making a most deserved century but was caught behind by the returning Cleeve for a truly brilliant 98 and Marsh then accounted for young Harry Smith 1 and Hythe were all out for a hard fought and competitive 185.    

Hythe used there quicker bowlers J.Weall & P.Whitlock up front to exploit anything left in the wicket but things did not go to plan as although Whitlock was a real handful Weall pulled a hamstring in his second over and Purbrook opening batsmen T.Biffen & J.Iles put on 23 but just when Hythe were wondering if things were turning against them again, Biffen optimistically went for a second run and was easily run out by Whitlock and Hythe got a lift.

Simon Wright replaced Weall but struggled to make an impact and Purbrook soon got past 50. Froggett was introduced into the attack and his great day continued when he knocked over Iles 23, caught Mills,  Cleeve lbw for an aggressive 39, D.McCoy bowled for 8 and M.Lee lbw 1, his 4 wicket burst left Purbrook 97-5 and the game delicately balanced, Hythe though were a bowler down without Weall, but Luke Mills stepped up to the plate and bowled very well without any luck but crucially his 9 overs only went for 26, Purbrook skipper A.Holder and B.Pay started to get the visitors back into the game and Holder was looking dangerous as he took the score to 129-5.

Hythe skipper Dixon again turned to Whitlock and the game swung back dramatically to the home side as he removed Holder for 30 with a nasty short ball well caught behind by Kev James, J.Holder 2 superbly caught at slip by Weall and then he bowled C.Marsh 1 and Purbrook were in trouble at 133-7. Pay played sensibly to keep Purbrook in with an outside chance but with overs running out the home side just needed to keep their heads and despite a couple of dropped catches the returning Wright & Froggett kept the home side in control Wright picked up the 9th wicket at 165 having Berry stumped by Kev James and with 11 required by the visitors from the final over he the had the resilient Pay again stumped by James for 29 and Purbrook were all out for 180 as Hythe had hung in brilliantly to win by 5 runs.  

Toss Won by : Purbrook

Innings of : HYTHE 185 All Out (43.4 Overs)

Innings of : PURBROOK 180 All Out (44.4Overs)

Hythe Bowling.

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