HYTHE XI vs OTTERBOURNE
Monday 3rd May
HYTHE BEAT OTTERBOURNE & GO INTO LEAGUE SEASON UNBEATEN
Matt HOWE 61
Despite chilly conditions a good size crowd turned out to see Hythe take on County 1 Otterbourne on Bank Holiday Monday.
Chasing 225 to win the Green Caps got home with 5 wickets to spare and 14 balls. Matt Howe (61) opening partnership of (91) with Rob James 34 set the base for a fine win which keeps the club unbeaten during pre season.
On a chilly afternoon skipper Simon Dixon won the toss and elected to put the visitors in on a drying wicket. S.Wallis as usual attacked from the go but found life difficult against the bowling of Jon Weall and Richie Froggett. Breakthrough came in the 8th over when S.Parkis 3 was caught by Ben Smith in the slips off Richie Froggett after Rob Saunders had flicked it into his path. After10 overs Dixon double changed his bowlers. De Jager and Saunders coming into the attack. A partnership of 38 was broken in the 17th over when at 64 Wallis was LBW bowled Saunders for 42. At drinks Otterbourne were 87 for 2 but from then A.Hammett and R.Keep upped the pace. The pair added 74 in 13 overs helped by a dolly drop by Mike Edwards.
Edwards redeemed himself by bowling Hammett for 39 and shortly afterwards Goodhall was superbly caught by Matt Howe at point off De Jager for 4.
147 for 4 off 32 and Hythe were going well but R.Keep 63 upped the pace once again until at 186 he was superbly run out by a great effort from De Jager/ Kev James behind the stumps. That brought in new signing Zaheer Abbas nicknamed IPL. He exploded into action hitting 4x6's & 2x4's in a double quick 36 not out. R.Cole finished on 17* and Otterbourne 224 for 5. Rob Saunders proved Hythe's best bowler 1-19 off 6.
Hythe got off to a strong start with Matt Howe and Rob James playing some lovely shots around the park. They put on 91 in 14 overs before Howe was out for 61-12x4's 1x6. At 111 Rob James was harshly judged LBW for 34 and when Simon Wright went for a duck Hythe were 164 for 4 off 22 and the game was finally balanced.
Kev James joined Edwards and the pair put on 49 in 9 overs to keep the green caps up with the pace. Edwards made a good 42 inc 7x4's 1x6
Kev James continued to play his shots scoring 40 before unluckily being stumped off the keepers pads with the score on 215. De Jager 20 not out and Jon Weall 5 not out saw Hythe home with 14 balls remaining.
A excellent game of cricket and a good tester for Hythe going into the league season.
Innings of : OTTERBOURNE 224 For 5 (40 Overs)
| Batsman | How Out | Bowler | Runs |
| 1. S.Wallis | L.B.W | Saunders | 42 |
| 2. S.Parkiss | Ct. B.Smith | Froggett | 3 |
| 3. +A.Hammett | Bowled | Edwards | 39 |
| 4. R.Keep | Run (de Jager | ) Out | 63 |
| 5. M.Goodhall | Ct.M.Howe | Weall | 4 |
| 6. B.Cole | Not | Out | 17 |
| 7. Z.Abbas | Not | Out | 36 |
| 8. *D.O'Brien | |||
| 9. J.Drummond | |||
| 10. D.Hammett | |||
| 11. S.Perkis | |||
| Extras - 25 | TOTAL | 224 For | 5 |
Hythe Bowling
| Bowler | Ov | Mn | Runs | Wkts |
| J.Weall | 8 | 1 | 58 | 0 |
| R.Froggett | 6 | 1 | 24 | 1 |
| A.de Jager | 8 | 0 | 47 | 1 |
| R.Saunders | 6 | 1 | 19 | 1 |
| B.Smith | 8 | 1 | 46 | 0 |
| M.Edwards | 4 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
Innings of : HYTHE 227 For 5 (37.4 Overs)
| Batsman | How Out | Bowler | Runs |
| 1. R.James | L.B.W | Goodhall | 34 |
| 2. M.Howe | Caught | Hammett | 61 |
| 3. M.Edwards | Caught | Keep | 42 |
| 4. S.Wright | Bowled | Goodhall | 0 |
| 5. +K.James | Stumped | Hammett | 40 |
| 6. A. de Jager | Not | Out | 20 |
| 7. J.Weall | Not | Out | 5 |
| 8. R.Saunders | |||
| 9. R.Froggett | |||
| 10. B.Smith | |||
| 11. *S.Dixon | |||
| Extras - 25 | TOTAL | 227 For | 5 |
Otterbourne Bowling
| Bowler | Ov | Mn | Runs | Wkts |
| Z.Abbas | 8 | 1 | 30 | 0 |
| J.Drummond | 7 | 1 | 34 | 0 |
| M.Goodhall | 8 | 1 | 30 | 2 |
| D.Hammett | 5.4 | 0 | 46 | 2 |
| B.Cole | 4 | 1 | 29 | 0 |
| S.Perkis | 3 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| R.Keep | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
RESULT : HYTHE Beat OTTERBOURNE by 5 Wkts
Highlights of the Day
Matt Howe's catch at Point.
The De Jager run out.
Excellent opening stand by Hythe.
Low Point of the Day
Rob Saunders disappointing outburst to the young Otterbourne opener