HYTHE & DIBDEN CRICKET CLUB

UNDER 17'S vs PYLEWELL PARK

Thursday 31st May

Hythe U17's Maintain 100% Record

You have to go back to 1990 for the last time a Hythe & Dibden Colts side won their opening three league games.

Hythe’s valiant tail end showed true character to overpower Pylewell’s low total after some great bowling from the Hythe attack. The Under 17’s third win of the season leaves them unbeaten near the top of the table.

Hythe welcomed Pylewell to Jones’s lane for the first home Under 17 game, the weeks rain had made for a tricky pitch but well done to the ground staff for ensuring a game was possible. Skipper Moore knew what he wanted to do against an unpredictable Pylewell side without even needing a pitch inspection and after winning the toss inserted Pylewell.

Opening for Hythe were the unstoppable pair of Pete Stevens Jnr and Rich Last who once again produced the spark from which Hythe built their game around. The second ball of the match from Pete Stevens bowled Pylewell’s opener, which brought in Matt Kitcher who we know is a threat, however four perfect full pitched balls later and Kitcher was gone, bowled middle stump – a double wicket maiden for Stevens. If things were not already bad enough for Pylewell one ball later Rich Last got in on the act, his trademark in-swinging yorker making Pylewell 0-3. It quickly got worse for Pylewell and after Stevens had uprooted the off stump of another batsman they were 5 down for 8 runs. Stevens finishing with 3ovs 1m 6runs 3w and Last 3ovs 0m 3runs 2w in another devastating opening spell.

The next three seamers all faired similarly delivering decent economy rates from some good tight bowling, both Powell and Moore also picking up a wicket for their efforts and maintaining the stranglehold on Pylewell’s innings. Throughout the innings Hythe’s fielding was exemplary and never allowed the Pylewell batsman to break the shackles, their captain Tarrant’s 29 had to be picked from the scraps that Hythe offered.

Finally Hythe’s spin pair came on (Not White and Stevens) but Carse and Smith and they closed out the match with James Carse taking two wickets including bowling Tarrant to end Pylewell’s real threat and then the pair combined on the last wicket with Carse taking a fine one handed catch at Mid-on off Smith.

Chasing only 52 to win, Hythe set about the task with usual openers Russell Moore and Tom Porter knowing the slow run rate just required them to stay in. The first two overs passed without alarm but in the third Matt Kitcher Bowled Moore for 3 to bring in Matt Howe. Shortly Howe was inexplicably LBW to Kitcher after getting an edge to the ball before the pads, the despair on the faces of the Hythe support at the decision was clear. It then got worse for Hythe both Page and Last departed for ducks before Powell was caught at Mid-off for 2. Hythe had slipped to 14-5 and the LBW decision of the Under-17’s in form player seemed costly. Tom Porter and Ben Smith then led a recovery to take Hythe to 27-5 off 9 overs – half way to their target. Then another disaster and Porter was bowled for 10 before next ball Greg Woods was caught out, 32-7. This brought in Matt Stark to join Smith at the crease and despite only needing two an over the victory seemed far off. The crowd cheered for every run that was scored including a magnificent four by Stark to ease the pressure. Finally with four overs to go Hythe sealed the win as Smith 11no and Stark 7no ensured a three wicket victory with a quick single. Kitcher returned figures of 4ovs 1m 6runs 4w and extras were the highest scorer on 17 but the victory was savoured by Hythe who won a third consecutive game for the first time in years. Tom Porter summed up the character within the current team; “We are a very resilient team now, we pulled through when other weaker teams would have crumbled”.

The limelight was stolen once again however by the opening pair of Stevens and Last who improve game upon game and allow Hythe to continue their unbeaten record this year. A special mention to Matt Stark whose fielding and batting display highlighted the spirit in the squad on his first appearance this season.

Innings of : PYLEWELL PARK 51 All Out (15.5 Overs)

Hythe Bowling

Innings of : HYTHE 52 For 7 (14 Overs)