SUNDAY / FRIENDLY CRICKET.

Sunday July 29th Vs TROJANS

Hythe Ruthless @ Stoneham Lane

Hythe brushed aside the damp conditions to put in a commanding performance against their Southern League opponents on Sunday and winning by 63 runs.

After some deliberation over whether the game should be played or not, a decision was made and Hythe lost the toss and were put into bat. Opening with Tom Gates and Matt Howe, Hythe got off to a slow but steady start. In the 8^th over Gates was bowled for 5 by Maiden who then went on to claim the wickets of Howe (11) and Mike Bowman (7), both LBW, in the 12^th and 14^th overs respectively. Richie Froggett and Paul Whitlock then came into bat but a few overs later, Froggett (8) was the first of 3 batsmen to be caught by the same man at a mid-offish position off the bowling of Wilson who, like Maiden, was bowling down the hill.

Sean Tongs (14) and Nardus Grobler (10) were out in the same way not long later. Luke Mills joined Whitlock and they put on a partnership of 26 before Mills was bowled by James for 7. Skipper Rob James replaced Mills and he and Whitlock pushed the score up to 130-5 before Whitlock was run out for 32. Pete Stevens JNR made a brief visit to the crease scoring 1 before being bowled by James then Gary Howe came in and he and James batted through to 40 overs. Hythe finished on 145-9.

Pete Stevens JNR opened the bowling with Tom Gates and Stevens claimed his first wicket in just his second over having Osmond caught behind by G Howe for 0. Both openers bowled economically and Trojans were behind the scoring rate from the outset. Rob James and Richie Froggett took over the bowling with Froggett getting instant success having A Jones caught by Whitlock for 8 in his first over. In the 16^th over James had Trojans’ other opener, Higginson, caught one-handed in the slips by Froggett for 16.

Not long later, Froggett claimed his second victim, bowling Oakden for 13 and James followed suit by bowling Owen for a duck 2 overs later. James and Froggett were replaced by Luke Mills and the returning Gates. In his second over, Mills had Boyd caught by Grobler for 23 which was the beginning of the end for Trojans. The next over Gates took 2 wickets, one bowled and one caught by Whitlock leaving Hythe with 1 wicket to get as a Trojans player had already left. This wicket came 2 overs later when Stevens bowled Jones for 9. Trojans finished on 82 all out with Hythe winning by 63 runs.

Innings of HYTHE 145 For 9 (40 Overs )

Innings of : TROJANS 82 All Out (30.5 Overs)

Hythe Bowling