MID WEEK MATCH Vs CHEAM ( SURREY )

17th JULY

Toss Won by: Cheam

Never Under Estimate The Opposition For Granted.

With no First Team players available Hythe fielded a very youthful side for this midweek friendly against Cheam a Touring Side from Surrey.

Their were mind games before the match when the Cheam skipper informed our side that in three years they had never won a tour match. Mind you it didn't stop him batting first after winning the toss and a very dismal batting performance from Hythe gave Cheam that first victory.

Steve Miller captained the side for the second time in a week and hoping to maintain his 100% record.

Miller opened the bowling with Pete Stevens and Peter Smith and the game was looking a non event when Smith claimed the first 3 wickets with only 11 on the board.

Stevens playing in only his second senior match bowled a tidy spell of 5 overs before being rested. Smith bowled through and he finished with 3-38 off 8 - a decent effort. James Page took over from the top end and his 5 overs only went for 11 runs a commendable effort by the lad, considering he had only bowled in one match before at under 17 level.

With the score on 65 Cheam lost their fourth wicket when Russell Moore took a well taken catch off Richard Last.

From then on Cheam clawed there way back in the game ( all be it Hythe took their opponents far too lightly )

Kington hit a fine 67 though he never really got into full gear. He was well supported by Ovens 27 and Ray 26.

Chiverton for some reason found the going tough from the first ball and his 6 overs cost 23 runs whilst Tongs was very unlucky, bowling 1-16 off five overs. In one over 3 balls missed the stumps by a whisker and there were two difficult chances went down.

Cheam finished their innings on 177 for 6 a ton more than was expected at one stage. Still it was a good chance for the youngsters to make a name for themselves on an easy pace wicket.

Steve Miller opened the batting with himself and Alan Taylor but the only criticism I would give the young captain was that the balance of the Hythe batting line up wasn't clever. Too many younger members were in the middle order with Tongsy batting down at 9 which meant there was no one to encourage them along.

Both openers were too casual from the begining and before we knew it Taylor was back in the pavilion for 3. Miller 6 hung around but looked nowhere near the player he was on Saturday playing for the seconds.

At 33 Hythe lost their 3rd wicket when Moore was caught for 15. Tim Bath played his shots and looked comfortable for a big score. James Page stupidly ran himself out going for a second and Hythe were 37-4.

Richard Last joined Bath and between them they put on 29 before Last was caught for 8 and Hythe were now 76 for 5.

Then the big wicket for Cheam - Bath was well caught for 32 an innings which included 5 x fours and 1 x six.

The Cheam players were now in really good spirit and could sense their first tour win.

The Hythe tail just crumbled as Stevens 5, Howe 3, Tongs 0 and Smith 2 all lost their wickets in quick succession. Hythe went from 88 for 7 to 97 all out.

Well done to the Surrey side but this has to go down as one of the poorest batting performances by a Hythe side in recent years ( Bath exempt ) as no one stayed around long enough to get settled in.

I might struggle to get a side out next Monday but it has to be said if we are to improve.

Innings of : CHEAM 177 for 6 ( 40 overs )

Innings of : HYTHE 97 all out