HYTHE & DIBDEN CRICKET CLUB

UNDER 17'S vs MILFORD ON SEA

Thursday 3rd May

U17's Get League Season Off To Winning Start

Hythe Under 17's gave the Club a winning start as their Senior Teams embark on their opening fixtures this weekend.

On a chilly Thursday evening at Milford on Sea, Hythe Under-17’s won a thrilling first game of the season thanks to a brilliant unbeaten 72 run partnership between Matt Howe and Rich Last.

Hythe came into the game with a strong line-up despite the absence of usual opener Tom Porter who has been the form colt player so far this season; James Page would fill the openers spot whilst the rest of the team was packed with men’s league hopefuls.

Skipper Moore won the toss and Hythe chose to field first, not knowing what the opposition strength was like, however this proved a good decision as good tight bowling from openers Pete Stevens Jnr, Rich Last and some fine Hythe fielding kept Milford’s openers in check. It was Pete Stevens who then made the first breakthrough for Hythe bowling Milford’s opener and leaving them 1-21, soon after Hythe struck again and a miserly spell of bowling from Rich Last resulted in the other Milford opener also clean bowled. Last ending with 3 overs 1 for 6. After ten overs Hythe’s accurate bowling and tight fielding had limited Milford to 29-2. Eventually after pressure from the sidelines the Milford batsmen decided to chance their arm against the spinners of Carse (4ovs 17runs 0w) and Smith (3ovs 11runs 0w) with little effect as Hythe kept Milford’s innings restricted until the last few overs. Lee Powell was brought on and picked up two wickets including a fine catch by Jon Pearson whilst skipper Moore also picked up a wicket despite Milford’s big hitters attempting to push the score over 100. In the end a fine fielding display was rewarded by limiting Milford to a total of 93-5, a total that looked well in reach for the ever improving Hythe batsmen.

It proved a premature conclusion however as the Milford attack had other ideas especially Will Thorpe (a well recognised district player) who quickly tore into the Hythe top order. Hythe were 1 down for 2 when Moore was trapped LBW by Thorpe for 1 then Page also lost his wicket to Thorpe for 2, soon after Hythe were in deep trouble, Ben Smith was dismissed for a duck by a stunning catch at first slip by Thorpe who was single handed (literally) taking the Hythe innings apart, the innings slipping to 8 for 3. A recovery was needed and for a short while Hythe steadied the ship through Howe and Powell until Powell was dismissed for 7 leaving Hythe 22 for 4 after 8 overs.

The talk from the sidelines was negative as most Hythe players were getting padded up expecting a sharp collapse and some even prepared for the long trip home, however Howe and Last had other ideas. After 10 overs at 39-4 Hythe were in fact 10 runs ahead of where Milford were and needed only seven an over which with the relatively short boundaries looked in touch. Sure enough Hythe picked their shots and dismissed Milford’s change bowlers who found it tough against the two batsmen who were now well in. At sixteen overs the pressure was intense, Thorpe came back on for his last over and Hythe needed just six to win off two overs, the field came in and pressure was on Rich Last who had to face. The first ball Last defended and it was a dot ball but then a low full toss was picked up by Last and drove over the bowlers head for four, the next ball Hythe took a scrambled single and with almost immediate effect Howe delivered the final blow by turning a ball off his legs for a single and Hythe had won by six wickets. The heroes undoubtedly, Howe 39* and Last 29* for an exceptional unbeaten stand of 72 in failing light.

Innings of : MILFORD ON SEA 93 FOR 5 (18 Overs)

Hythe Bowling

Innings of : HYTHE 94 For 4 (16.4 Overs)