Hampshire County Division 2

United Services vs Hythe & Dibden 1st XI

19th July Played @ U.S Portsmouth Ground

Wrighty & Whits Get Hythe Back To Winning Ways

A 128 run partnership between Paul Whitlock & Simon Wright was the foundation for fine 3 wicket win against high flying United Services and got Hythe back to winning ways after their recent hic-up.

Batting first US Portsmouth, were on the back foot early on a Jon Weall found some good form and knocked over opener M.Hare for 0 and at 38 Weallo struck again having I.Saunders caught for 10. Hythe were able to keep the pressure on with the ever accurate Whitlock bowling J.Hadfield for 9 as US struggled to 62-3 from 20 overs, and things got better for Hythe as Simon Wright then bowled danger man P.Hurst for a fine 48 and doubled it up when bowling K.Norwood for just 2.

US were now 98-5 from 33 overs and in need of a partnership, and that's exactly what the got as M.Claydon & M.Rose battled hard against Whits & Wrighty they put on 35 before Claydon fell for 36 to the returning Rich Froggett, well caught by Rich Last. Rose then found some support from P.Barsby and they took US on to 169 before Barsby was bowled by Wright his third wicket in the last over and US finished on 170-7.

Hythe without regular opening bat Rob James, opened with the skipper Si Dixon and Whits but with the new ball moving around early on Hythe stumbled to 10-2 as Dixon and Matt Howe both fell without scoring as US bowler Rose & Taylor were a handful on a wicket were you never really ever felt in. Wrighty joined Whits and set about repairing the damage and gradually the partnership started to flow, US tried hard to keep the pressure on rotating their bowlers but before long Hythe passed 50 with Whits moving the ball around and Wright the aggressor and at 20 overs Hythe were 64-2 and now started to lift the run rate after 30 overs they had moved on to 109-2 and Wright had passed 50.

Hythe moved up a gear passing 125 from 33 overs as the two batsmen were now both playing shots all round the ground, and as Hythe went passed 130 Whits brought up his 50. Finally though at 138 a tired Whits returned a catch to Saunders who held on to at after two attempts and had gone for a very fine 50, but with just 33 needed from 11 overs Hythe hoped things would be plain sailing, however well noted for doing things the hard way Hythe wobbled Wright fell for a superb 75 at 140 trying to launch one out of the park and when Kev James 8 and Mike Graham 4 both were bowled Hythe had moved edgily to 151-6, overs were not a problem but at 157 Rich Froggett fell for 6 becoming Taylor's 3 wicket and the pressure was on.

Enter youngsters Rich Last 9 no & Luke Mills 6 no who had a look before both struck quality boundaries to guide Hythe home with 10 balls to spare, and a vital 3 wicket win.

Innings of : UNITED SERVICES 170 For 7 (45 Overs)

Hythe Bowling.

Innings of : HYTHE 171 For 7 (43.2 Overs)