HYTHE & DIBDEN CRICKET CLUB

PYLEWELL PARK vs HYTHE UNDER 17'S

Thursday 19th July

Rain Ruins Exciting Finish

Despite the weather causing the Under 17’s game to be abandoned at an evenly poised state the spirit of the players shone throughout and all thoroughly enjoyed the day and it was disappointing that some good performances counted for nothing.

As with most Hythe teams travelling to Pylewell Park we lost the toss and were put into bat and not too surprisingly the rumours that Matt Kitcher wouldn’t play were false as he opened the bowling. Out came usual openers Russell Moore and Tom Porter for Hythe and immediately got the score off and running with a two off the first ball.

Neither of the Pylewell openers troubled Hythe despite inducing some out-swing from the pitch and Tom Porter showed his aggressive style as he did against Calmore by dispatching his first two scoring shots for four. Seemingly cruising at six an over Pylewell captain Tarrant brought himself on in order to change things and it worked as he bowled Moore for 13 trying to work a straight ball to leg. 8 runs later and Tom Porter was also back in the pavilion leg before to Tarrant trying a similar shot for 14. Matt Howe was already looking in imperious form however and never looked troubled as he knocked the ball around the park, the problem for Hythe was no-one could stick around with him as both Page and Powell fell cheaply to leave Hythe 60-4.

In came Ben Smith and did the required job as he allowed Howe to push the score along and it wasn’t till the 17^th over that Howe holed out going for a big hit for a well deserved 40 with the score on 96. The advice from the sidelines was to push for 100 and despite the run outs of both Matt Stark and Greg Woods, Smith picked up the runs off the last ball to finish on 101-7, a well defendable total.

First over as usual for Hythe was Pete Stevens Jnr and his pace troubled the Pylewell openers who survived a dropped catch and could only scramble a single off his first over, at the other end without the unavailable Rich Last it was Skipper Moore who opened and similarly kept the Pylewell openers in check. In the fourth over Hythe made the break through as Moore bowled the opener and finished with a wicket maiden at 13-1. Stevens then bowled the other opener in his next over for 2-19 and after six overs Hythe were well set but the rain started to fall. On came Smith to replace Stevens but after a tight over for only 5 the umpires discussed the weather in persistent rain and bad light. Eventually the teams agreed to continue for an over but only four balls later from James Carse and the rain became harder and it was decided the players would come off with the score on 37-2 off 7.4 overs. Although the game would not restart the Hythe lads all joined in with a game of catch on the pitch and showed great team spirit and squad atmosphere which would not be ruined by the weather. For some of the team this is their last colt’s match and it would be disappointing to break up such a team spirit as all the guys thoroughly enjoyed themselves this season and put in 100% effort.

Innings of : HYTHE 101 For 7 (18 Overs)

Innings of : PYLEWELL PARK 37 For 2 (7.4 Overs)

Hythe Bowling