MIDWEEK CRICKET.

Wednesday June 27th Vs TWYFORD HOUSE (BRISTOL)

Rain Denies A Finish To Tourists Only Match

The rain which was forcasted for most of the day held until 4.30 and despite twice trying to resume both sides sportingly retired back to the bar.

Hythe fielding several senior colts in their side turned up to find pirates had landed in Hythe. The visitors has come over from Southampton by ferry and stopped off in the Lord Nelson before making there way to the ground.

I don't know what the senior citizens sat down by the marina each day must have thought as they saw 20 pirates getting off the old hotspur.

Twyford elected to bat first in a 35 over game and in true Twyford fasion they once again swapped there batting order around. So don't threat guys Taylors figures may look good but he was bowling to Second XI number 10 & 11.

Young Tim Bath opened from the top end and to a great round of applause kicked off with a maiden as if he had never been away. But it was Taylor who picked up the first wicket in the 5th over with the visitors on 8 for 1 off 5 much to the disgust of the pirates on the sideline.

After 10 overs Twyford were still crawling at 14 - 1 though everyone admitted it wasn't easy out there after all the rain we have had.

Al Taylor finished his first spell 5 overs 1-8 and Tim 5 overs 0-7.

Taylor then switched to Shane Watson and Terry Cox and in the 16th over Cox picked up the 2nd wicket clean bowling Ople fpor 3. Watson then got inot the ction next over bowling Ball for 0 and Twyford were 35 for 3. Then 3 overs later and they were in further trouble at 45 for 5 as Cox caught & bowled Francombe for 1 and Tim Bath caught opener West off Cox for 15.

Now we were down to the proper batsman - Brown came in and started playing a few shots and started to step up the pace with Hazzard at the other end. But at 69 Brown tried to hard and was stumped by Matt Howe off the bowling of Punchey Mills. Hazzard looked in good nuck but had to be thankful to Tibbles for being there after his frist ball faced - Tibbles dropping him first ball on the boundary ). This brought in the dangerous Byas but after hitting a four and a six Tibbles made amends for his poor effort earlier by holding onto a very good catch in the deep. Twyford 94 for 7 off 27

Sutton joined Hazzard and with the assistance of 20 wides (Punchey 9, Taylor 4) they took the Twyford score to 118 for 7 off 30 overs before rain intervened for an early tea. The pick of the Hythe bowlers Tery Cox 5-0-19-3

Hythe went out to bat needing 119 off 30 overs but within a few balls they were off again due to rain. When they went back out conditions were soggy to say the least. Daniel Kyte playing his first game for Hythe and his first game of cricket since school was persuaded into opening the batting but after scoring a 2 off his second ball faced he then was bowled by Neville in the same over.

Russell Moore then joined Tom Porter at the crease but in the 5th over he too was back in the pavillion bowled by Neville for 3. This brought in Sean Tongs who put in a cautious approach at the begining not to give his wicket away. At the 10 overs mark Hythe were 18 for 2.

Lee Powell ( playing for Twyford as Chiv found himself with 13 Hythe players getting changed in the changing rooms ) then came onto bowl first change. Tongs and Porter took the score upto 50 in the 16th over before Powell had Porter trapped LBW for 14.

Hythe now needed 60 off the final 14 overs but in the next over Tongs was bowled by Sutton for 24. James Page was positive from the start hitting a 3 and a 4 whilst Skipper Taylor came out and did what he does best offered a catch first ball only to be dropped.

Sadly at the begining of the 19th over the rain came down once more and that as stumps. A creditable draw. ( I won't do it on run rate otherwise we would have lost).

After a few more magnums the pirates set sail back to Portswood and tomorrow off to the Isle of Wight for some beach cricket amongst themselves. Hopefully they will return again next year as it is always a good fixture and a fun afternoonn with them around - but well done to the Hythe boys and Anne Howe as well who turned out to support the fixture.

Toss Won by Twyford House.

Innings of : TWYFORD HOUSE 118 FOR 7 (30 Overs)

(A.Brown 17, D.West 15, S.Byas 12)

Hythe Bowling

Innings of : HYTHE 59 FOR 4 (18 Overs)