SUNDAY / FRIENDLY CRICKET.

Sunday April 15th Vs LOCKSHEATH

Hythe Lose Seasons Opener But The Youngsters Put Up a Good Fight

Playing on one of the smallest grounds in the County - Hythe went into the game with no less that 12 senior players missing. 11 due to Wrighty's stag do and Paul Whitlock who was nursing a bad back. Skipper Alan Tayloe was offered the services of B.A.T players Lee Savident and Neil Jenkins but decided wisely to stick with the youth set up that Hythe have been trying so hard to develop over the past five years.

As for Locksheath their side concited of five First County 1 players after their Saturday opener was called off last minute by Portsmouth & Southsea.

Toss Won by Locksheath.

Locksheath won the toss and as expected decided to bat. Groblers first five overs were as tight as ever going for just 13 runs and clean bowlong Stone for 8, but at the other end Steve Miller was suffering from the long lay off as his first five overs went for 42, After 10 overs Locksheath had raced to 62-1.

Chiverton replaced Grobler and picked up a wicket in his first over - bowling A.Richardson for 42. Darren Miller back after a two year lay off came on in place of his brother and though having 20 knocked off his first over, he then got into the rhythem of old and picked up the wicket of S.Jones for 1 caught behind by Gary Howe. He also picked up the wicket of Mogg for 12 leaving Locksheath132 for 4. But J.Richardson who looked the one true class bat then took over, seeing off both Chiverton and D.Miller.

Ben Smith was introduced to the attack and promptly went for 15 off his first two overs whilst Russell Moore had an even worse time as his 3 overs went for 45. Smith did however pick up the wicket of Richardson for 61. Hythe kept going depite the hot conditions and Luke Mills came on late to pick up the wicket of Jones for 15. J.Wills made a quick fire 46 before Smith had him caught by Russell Moore. Darren Miller ertunrd to take two more wickets but with Lemon 37 not out at the end Locksheath finished on a massive 279 for 8. Only Nardus Grobler 1-14 off 8 overs came away with any pride from their bowling figures.

The large Locksheath total was always going to be beyond Hythe or was it as Grobler took to his new bat and the small boundary with great conviction. He smashed a quick fire 32 off just 5 overs before being caught at backward point. The skipper Al Taylor didn't last long and the concerns wee that Hythe were just going to fold. But the colts are improving all the time and Tom Porter and Russell Moore kept there heads and put on a 60 run partnership for the third wicket before Moore was run out backing up for 21. Porter kept playing very well against some very good bowling from County 1 player D.Lemon whoses 5 overs went for just 8 runs.

Gary Howe was seeing the ball well and took an instant likeness to the small boundary hitting a 6 and 2 fours with his first three scoring shots. Porter finally went in the 27th over playing on for a fine 39 and Hythe were 124 for 4. Steve Miller was out without scoring bringing in Matt Howe to join dad. Batting down the order cause of a migrane he too got in with the 6 feast but sadly fell for 12. Dad though continued to play his shots and brought up the first fifty of the season in just 15 scoring shots. Ben Smith went for 2 and Darren Miller a first ball leaving Luke Mills to play out the overs and finishing on 7 not out whilst Gary Howe finished on a very good 69 not out inc 6x4's & 6x6's. Hythe ended their innings on 215 for 8 a very good effort leaving them 64 runs short. But at the end of the day Hythe should be the beneficers as the next generation of players proved that most of them have the skills to perform in senior cricket.

Innings of : LOCKSHEATH 279 for 8 ( 40 Overs)

(J.Richardson 61, J.Wills 46, A.Richardson 43, D.Lemon 37 not out)

Hythe Bowling

Innings of : HYTHE 215 for 8 (40 Overs)