DEVON TOUR

COUNTESS WEAR vs HYTHE & DIBDEN

Wednesday 11th July

5 RUN WIN & KEV JAMES THE UNLIKELY

Wednesdays Game @ COUNTESS WEAR

Yes the three musketeers had arrived and a welcome sight believe you me. Woody got the minibus rocking with all the Fawley songs down the bypass and though the bodies were weary the atmosphere was refreshed with Wrighty and Punchey to take the mickey out of.

When we got there we found a lovely cricket ground only marred by no bar or showers. Dixie dropped out so his duty was to find a store for some beers. Skipper for the day Punchey won the toss and elected to bat first. Wrighty had his pads on before the team shett was even announced feeling that he was here to revive the tour.

And he did four overs later he was back in the pavilion and a wasted opportunity to bat. Bellie on the other hand was determined to play the anchor role. Only trouble was so was Devon Lock ( Bowman ) and the next 16 overs could have drove you to a kip in the outfield. Fair play though the Countess Wear fielding and bowling was far beyond we expected and on 20 overs Hythe had managed just 53 for 1. Soon after Bellie decided he was the anchor man and run out his Second XI skipper for 11. In came Froggie on a hat trick of Goldens which was abruptly let known to the opposition. Froggie however was to have none of it and was in a determined mood to push the score along and Bellie.

On 83 Bellie was caught for 47 and soon after Bambi Guymer 13, The Guru 4 and Symbols ( Kev James ) 3 were all back sun bathing. 5 overs left and Hythe were 126 for 5 and Froggie pushing to get over the 150 mark. Grobler came in hit another tour 6 and then fell for 12 and Froggett finally went for a positive 38. Hythe finished on 157 for 9 off their 40 overs.

Teas for 14 they were told not 24 - there were masses to the delight ofthe Hythe boys.

After tea Hythe took to the field knowing that Nardy was on the 6.30 bus to the train station. Grobler opened the bowling and very first ball knocked down the off stump. But that was as good as it got for the big man as his line and length just vanished ( fingers crossed he was just thinking about getting home to Becks) It didn't help that the skipper (Punchey) decided to conk the ball instead of catching it. Groblers 4 overs went for 42 and at the 10 over mark Countess Wear were 57 for 2. Froggett again bowled a superb spell with his 8 going for just 1-15. The James brothers were brought into the attack and it was Kev who pulled Hythe back in the game with 3 wickets in his first 5 overs. One of them a great catch by Punchey who redeemed himself after his earier mistake.

At the 20 mark Countess were 89 for 6 and the game evenly poised. Kev James finished his spell 6-0-25-3 much to the disgust of the Countess captain as he trundled off the pitch to find out he had been bowled by a wicket keeper. Robbie's 6 overs cost just 1-12 which kept Hythe in the game. We then saw a 46 run partnership between Forbes- Brown 32 and Irish 24 and supported by Punchey's 3 overs for 22, which brought the home side back into the game but Wrighty then picked up 2 quick wickets to balance the game at 145 for 9. The last pair took the score to 152 needing just a six to win when ' The Big Issue' won the game for Hythe by 5 runs. Not bad for a guy who couldn't bowl because of injury.

Another close game played in a very good spirit. Thirty years ago to the day it was the great Sir Vivian Richards who was the winning captain on this ground as a full Somerset side played Countess Wear including Big Bird Garner, and Ian Botham - today its Punchey including a side with Wrighty in it. Not much comparison.

Innings of : HYTHE 157 For 9 (40 Overs)

Innings of : COUNTESS WEAR 152 All Out (33.2 Overs)

( I.Forbes-Brown 32, P.Irish 24, M.Griffin 22)

HYTHE BOWLING