HYTHE SUNDAY XI VS PHOENIX

Sunday 5th August

Phoenix Hold Out For Draw

On a scorching afternoon skipper Rob James pleased his team mates by winning the toss and batting first. Mike Bowman and Tom Gates opened but in just the fourth over Harvey had Gates caught for 5. This bought Paul Whitlock into bat.

Considering the length of the outfield which is making run scoring difficult, both batted well for a partnership of 111. Bowman was first to go after being caught, again off the bowling of Harvey for 50 and a few overs later Whitlock was bowled by Harvey. Matt Stark and Matt Howe replaced them but with Howe trying to put some quick runs on the board Stark (2) was unfortunately run out for 2. Luke Mills joined Howe and they continued to keep the score ticking over until Howe was bowled by Harvey for a quick 18. Pete Stevens JNR, the next man in, was Harvey’s fifth victim lasting only 2 balls before he was caught for 0. Nardus Grobler then came in to hit the penultimate ball off the innings for a single leaving Mills (6) to hit a 3 to finish Hythe up on 168-6.

Pete Stevens JNR and Nardus Grobler opened the bowling for Hythe and both had relatively early success, Grobler getting D owens caught behind by Matt Howe for 3 then Stevens JNR having Jones caught by Bowman for 3 the next over. Langridge and A Price put on a partnership of 43 before Rob James had Price trapped LBW for 17 and the next over Steve Chiverton had Langridge caught by Whitlock for 28. The fall of wickets was fairly steady throughout the Phoenix innings with James having R Owens caught by Whitlock for 15, Reynolds caught by Bowman for 7 then bowling D Price for 4 and this slowed down the run rate. With the score on 112, Phoenix lost their eighth wicket when Mills had Clayton caught by Whitlock for 2. With 5 overs left, Hythe had 2 wickets to get and Phoenix 56 runs. Phoenix were well on their way to playing out for the draw when Tom Gates bowled Harvey for 1 in the last over but the number eleven G Owens blocked out the remaining 5 balls to finish up on 115-9 and the game resulting in a draw.

Toss : Won by Hythe

Innings of : HYTHE 168 for 6 dec

Innings of : PHOENIX 115 For 9 (38 Overs)

(R.Langridge 28, A.Price 17, R.Owens 15, J.Smith 13*)

Hythe Bowling