LANGLEY MANOR vs Hythe & Dibden 1st XI

16.06.07

'Battling Hythe Just Lose Out'  

Maybe the numbers game finally caught up with Hythe, having 3 key players unavailable, but they battled all the way and but for a bit of luck and a rare blip from the top order may have pulled off a win. Credit must go though to Luke Mills & Keith Alderman who having not batted all season gave Hythe the shot at a win.  

Losing the toss probably was not the best start for the visitors as the wicket although firm was damp and moved around early on. Kev & Rob James though got Hythe off to a flyer putting on 32 for the first wicket in just 5 overs before Kev fell for 8, the in form Simon Dixon joined Rob and they took the score on to 49 before Dixy became R. Noble's second victim.

Rob James kept Hythe in the frame but was finding the slower Langley bowlers not so much to his liking, and when Dave Guymer was adjudged caught behind for 4 Hythe's run rate had dipped at 70-3 from 20 overs, James then fell for good 40 at 83 and shortly afterwards Richie Froggett was unluckily given out lbw to the tidy bowling of Green as Hythe now were struggling at 89-5, Nardus Grobler & Keith Alderman took the visitors past the 100 mark but at 104 Grobler became another lbw victim.

Luke Mills came in and played sensibly before taking the fight back to the home side as he and Alderman took the score up to 143, then Alderman was caught for a fine 24, but Mills and Russell Moore got Hythe to 161, when Mills became R.Budd's second wicket caught for a career best and very fine 32, shortly afterwards Moore was given run out for 8 and Green 4-35 finished off Hythe innings at 167 having James Page caught off the last ball of the innings.  

In  reply Hythe were looking for early wickets, Grobler bowled really quickly and although he forced J.Holloway retired hurt after striking him a nasty blow a mid-ships, just could not get the breakthrough, at 13 though Froggett had J.Newell superbly caught by Grobler at slip and with Langley struggling to get the ball away Hythe got their second wicket at 28 when Alderman had Noble caught for 8, S.Khan joined C.Bruton at the wicket but Hythe missed a great chance to inflict more damage when they dropped Khan first ball.

At 46 Guymer having his first bowl of the season had Bruton caught behind for 13. Khan and J.Palmer rode their luck a bit as Hythe put down a couple of difficult chances but they batted well taking Langley to 80 before Guymer got Khan caught for 32, and at 92 Holloway who returned to the wicket became Guymer's third victim caught well by Alderman in a fine spell of bowling, at 100 A.Newell fell to R.James for 2 caught Alderman and Hythe were in with a real chance with the run rate approaching 6 an over. Palmer though was looking better the longer he was in the middle and he was joined by Budd and Budd who obviously is not a normal no. 8 swung the game decisively Langley's way with an excellent unbeaten 43 at better than a run a ball, Palmer finished 34 not out and the home side got home with 3 overs to spare.  

Toss Won by : Langley Manor

Innings of : HYTHE 167 All Out (45 Overs)

Innings of : LANGLEY MANOR 168 For 6 (41.3 Overs)

Hythe Bowling