SUNDAY / FRIENDLY CRICKET.

Sunday April 22nd 15th Vs COOMBE BISSETT

Hythe Edged Out In Last Over Thriller.

Hythe completed their pre season warm up games losing a closely fought 40 over match away at Coombe Bissett in a game which went down to the last over.

Hythe fielded a much more experienced side than in previous weeks yet it couldn't prevent them going down to their third successive defeat. On the plus side Hythe have never been good pre season starters and the three games have given no less than 25 players some pre season practise.

Hythe skipper Kev James won the toss and opted to bat but within 4 overs both openers James himself and Sean Tongs were back in the pavilion, and it was quite apparent the wicket was going to be difficult for all batsmen.

Young James Page was joined at the crease by Paul Whitlock making his first start of the season, at 21 Page fell for 8 and Ben Kendrick strode to the wicket, Kendrick got off the mark with a booming six over extra cover and he and Whitlock put on 50 for the 4th wicket taking the sore to 71 before Kendrick who had batted well for 28 lost patience against some leg theory and got himself stumped. Rich Froggett 17 helped Whitlock take the score past the 100 mark before he and then Nardus Grobler 9 were both out leaving Hythe on 118-6.

Mike Edwards in his big comeback game after a 4 year absence hit a breezy 19 in a 44 partnership with Whitlock, but after he fell in the dying overs at 162-7 Pete Stevens departed at the same score, and Whits who had now past 50 fell for a hard fought 54 also at 162, and Hythe would add just two more runs to a total of 164 all out.

Chasing Coombe Bissett found things no easier against Grobler & Froggett who conceded just 25 off the bat in the opening 12 overs. Kendrick was then brought in to the attack with Edwards and Hythe continued to make the batsmen struggle before Edwards bowled Adlam for 15.

The home team managed to keep wickets in hand despite their slow scoring but Kendrick then dismissed Jeffery for 18 and the match was evenly balanced with Coombe Bissett at 62-2 from 21 overs. Pete Stevens was the brought on along with Rob James and the game briefly swung the way of the home side following a couple of midfields (youngster and the long barrier don't get on) and lose deliveries, but at 86 Stevens got rid of Newman for 9 superbly pouched by Nardus, and another bowling change brought more success when Tom Porter then struck removing Button 15 leaving the home side 119-4 with just 8 overs left.

The game see-sawed over the next few overs and Hythe who could have brought back Grobler decided in the interest of what was turning out to be a great game to leave things as they were. A great 38th over from Edwards left Coombe Bisset needing 10 from the last 2 overs and in the penultimate over Rob James got rid of opener Johnson who had batted through for a fine 58, but the home side managed to squeeze home in the last over, of an excellent game.

Innings of HYTHE 164 All Out (40 Overs )

Innings of : COOMBE BISSETT 168 FOR 5

Hythe Bowling