Hythe Start Season In Convincing Style
Hythe & Dibden Vs. New Milton II at Jones Lane
05.05.07
Hythe got there league season underway with a comfortable 7 wicket win at home to New Milton.
On winning the toss on what looked a fine track Hythe still opted to rely on their bowlers to have first use of the wicket, and this decision proved correct as although the visitors put on 37 for the first wicket Richie Froggett and Ben Kendrick soon ripped the heart out of the batting.
Froggett first removed P.Wakefield well caught by Ewan Bell for 17 and then Kendrick struck twice in his second over, then amazingly Froggett took two more wickets in the next over as New Milton slipped to 41-5, two overs later and it was 47-6, Kendrick picking up his third wicket.
New Milton staged a bit of a fightback as S.Taylor struck a couple of lusty blows, but when he was caught and bowled by Froggett for Richie's fourth wicket the writing looked on the wall with New Milton now 65-7. Dixon whose captaincy was spot on brought back Nardus Grobler who had struggled earlier and he immediately sent the next batsman packing cartwheeling the leg stump fully ten metres.
Credit though to the New Milton tail as J.Waller supported E.Baker who decided to take the long handle out to anything in his arc hitting a beligerent 36, at 112 Paul Whitlock still struggling with back problems finally found the outside edge and the returning Kendrick next over removed Baker to wrap up the innings for 118 all out.
In reply Hythe openers Rob & Kev James went on the attack from the third over, with Rob looking in good touch thumping a number of boundaries, and it was no surprise when the pair brought up their 50 from just 11 overs. Rob was then dismissed for 27, Si Dixon made just 1 before unluckily played on, and at 67 Kev fell for 25 giving Taylor his second wicket, but that was to be the last wicket the visitors would take as Ben Kendrick and Dave Guymer took control of the game with Guymer looking in superb form hitting an unbeaten 33 from 46 balls and the pairs undefeated 52 run partnership took Hythe to their target of 119 with 16 overs to spare.
Innings of : NEW MILTON 118 All Out (36.4 Overs)
| Batsman | How Out | Bowler | Runs |
| 1. P.Wakefield | ct Bell | Froggett | 17 |
| 2. N.Lewis | LBW | Kendrick | 8 |
| 3. D.Crossley | Bowled | Froggett | 0 |
| 4. L.Miller | Bowled | Kendrick | 4 |
| 5. S.Taylor | ct & bd | Froggett | 14 |
| 6. D.Bilham | Bowled | Froggett | 0 |
| 7. S.Dyer-Smith | Bowled | Kendrick | 0 |
| 8. S.Vibert | Bowled | Grobler | 6 |
| 9. J.Waller | ct K.James | Whitlock | 8 |
| 10. E.Baker | Bowled | Kendrick | 36 |
| 11. N.Fields | Not | Out | 0 |
| Extras - 25 | TOTAL | 118 All | Out |
Hythe Bowling
| Bowler | Ov | Mn | Runs | Wkts |
| G.Grobler | 9 | 0 | 26 | 1 |
| R.Froggett | 12 | 6 | 25 | 4 |
| B.Kendrick | 9.4 | 2 | 31 | 4 |
| P.Whitlock | 6 | 1 | 33 | 1 |
Innings of : HYTHE 119 For 3 (29.1 Overs)
| Batsman | How Out | Bowler | Runs |
| 1. +K.James | LBW | Taylor | 25 |
| 2. R.James | ct & bd | Dyer-Smith | 27 |
| 3. *S.Dixon | Bowled | Taylor | 1 |
| 4. B.Kendrick | Not | Out | 13 |
| 5. D.Guymer | Not | Out | 33 |
| 6. G.Grobler | |||
| 7. E.Bell | |||
| 8. P.Whitlock | |||
| 9. R.Froggett | |||
| 10. L.Mills | |||
| 11. J.Page | |||
| Extras - 20 | TOTAL | 119 For | 3 |
Result : HYTHE Beat NEW MILTON by 7 Wkts Hythe 22 Points - New Milton 3 Points |