MATT MILLER MEMORIAL TROPHY

September 8th Vs B.A.T SPORTS XI

Bath Wins It For Hythe Off Last Ball

- It Was So Dark It Could Have Been Pieterson In Disguise

Played in excellent spirit the Matt Miller Memorial Trophy was won by Hythe off the last ball of the match in pitch black conditions just the sort of game Matt would have enjoyed.

B.A.T played their part in a game that was a credit to the spirit of young Matt, by retiring their two opening bats as they took a shine to the Hythe bowlers who were already in winter mode.

Toss Won by : B.A.T SPORTS

( 16 Overs a Side )

Robbie James captained the side as they took to the field to face two of B.A.T's top batsman.

Tim Bath opened the bowling with Mike Bowman at the other end. B.AT's two openers Franklin and Savident waisted no time in finding the boundary as 35 came off the first two overs. Bath did have a chance of glory though when Savident was dropped by Taylor on the boundary after he caught a glimpse of an ex-girlfiend out of the corner of his eye.

Poor old Asbo has made a name for himself in the last few weeks of the season for showboating to the crowd and missing crucial cathes - something he needs to snap out of quickly if he is to run the Sunday side next year. But don't worry mate all ex skippers seem to go through it ie small hands Dixon and Wrighty.

Back to the match 35 for 0 off 2 soon became 61 for 0 off 4 as poor our old skipper ' Tinky Winky' had no answer to the onslaught.

Bath came off after 2 overs which went for 32 as Robbie introduced Salad into the attack. A respectable 5 runs came off Groblers first over but it was only a blip as 10 came off the next Bowman over 76 for 0 off 6. That increased to 101 off 8 and the B.a.t skipper Simon Preston generously called in his two openers to give others a game.

Both openers finished unbeaten on 47 with Savident scoring 6 fours and 2 sixes whilst Franklin scored 4 fours and 3 sixes.

Bowman finished with 0-41 off 4 overs and when Chalky White was called into the attack everyone rushed to the car park to move their cars. Whites 2 overs went for 22 but Robbie James at the other end bowled steady and claimed three wickets as B.A.T went for the runs. James claimed the wickets of Daniels 13, Rogers7 and Jenkins 9 thanks to two excellent catches by Bath and Kev James.

Grobler got the wicket of Terry Cox 0 and B.A.T finished their 16 overs on 163 for 4 with Ricky Rawlins unbeaten on 23 ( 2 fours and 2 sixes)

With the light fading very fast Hythe opened with former B.A.T boy Kev James and Alan Taylor. Needing over 10 an over Hythe got off to the perfect start as they rushed to 31 for 0 off 3 overs. Against his old club Kev James was up for it and wasted no time hitting four boundaries.

6 overs gone and 66 on the board. In the next over James reached his half century but next ball was caught off the bowling of Millard for 51. Hythe 75 for 1 off 7.

Guymer joined Taylor but in the next over Taylor was out caught off the bowling of Cox for 14.

76 for 2 became 83 for 3 as Steve Miller was out for 3 bowled by Miller.

Halfway stage Hythe 83 for 3 and up with the pace. Guymer hit 2 lovely boundaries before he was next out for 14 and Hythe were 101 for 4 off 10.2 overs.

By this time it was dark - fielders were hunting for the ball on the outfield, spectators were covering their heads everytime a big hit was called.- reason Nardus Grobler was at the crease. He wasted no time getting use to the dark and hit 4 fours in a quickfire 21 before being well caught in the outfield off the bowling of Preston. How the guy saw it let alone caught it no one knows. Hythe 125 for 5 needing 39 off the last 3.4 overs.

All down to the youngsters with healthy eye sights. Mills and Bath were seeing the ball like a beechball. They put on 21 before Mills was out for an excellent 26 and Hythe were now 146 for 6 still needing 18 to win off 7 balls. Next ball went for 2 byes and needing 16 off the last over.

Mark Daniels bowled the last over ( or we think ) after a dot ball off the first ball it then became the Tim show - the next four Bath hits for 3 fours and a two, so to the last ball and 2 required. A big slog by Bath everyone umpires, fielders and spectators windered where its gone till someone signals 4 and the presidents days man of the match had done it again.

But well done to everyone for a splendid game especially to the B.A.T boys for making a game of it.

After a pleasant speech from Kev James he presented the trophy to brother Robbie and the trophy stays in the cabinet for another year. £100 was generated from the raffle which Elaine kindly donated to the Colts Section of the Cricket Club.

Innings of : B.A.T SPORTS XI 163 for 4 (16 Overs)

Hythe Bowling

Innings of : HYTHE 166 for 6 (16 Overs)