HYTHE SUNDAY XI vs COMPTON & CHANDLERS FORD

Sunday 17th May

Fantastic Fonz brings Happy Days to Hythe.

Richard ‘Fonzy’ Last bludgeoned a scorching unbeaten 94 on Sunday to pull off a victory out of nowhere for a young Hythe team. Striking balls to all parts of the boundary he left the Compton team in shock as an almost definite draw was brilliantly turned into a win.

On a delightful Sunday afternoon at Jones’ Lane, Hythe won the toss and chose to field first in a timed game. Opening the bowling for Hythe were Rich Last and the in form Greg Woods and it was Last who made the breakthrough in just the third over of the day, bowling the opener with the Compton score on 11. This however proved to be the only wicket for 27 overs as The opening batsman Thompson was joined by Kearns in a substantial partnership that frustrated the Hythe bowlers. Runs came slowly at first with Last 5-2-10-1, Woods 7-0-24-0 and Powell 6-0-15-0 all bowling tightly and maintaining good economies on a very good batting track, however as the pair began settling down runs were hard to stop and anything short was punished, especially by the impressive Thompson.

When a wicket eventually fell it was Kearns who top-edged a pull off Moore to give vice-captain Bell a simple catch at square leg. Soon after Pete Stevens Jnr had a wicket as Hadcroft clipped a sharp chance to Moore at mid-wicket for a duck. At this stage Thompson was already looking in ominous form and no Hythe bowlers escaped unpunished, while he was still at the crease Compton pushed for runs.

Hythe’s next wicket was a yorker by Howe to remove Scott for 8 as the green caps tried to keep the opener off strike. Finally Hythe removed Thompson agonisingly short of his century finishing on 99 as he was caught by Moore off the bowling of Stovell. Some late Hitting by R.Spearing (14*) and A.Spearing (16*) took Compton and Chandler’s Ford to 198-5 and a competitive total.

In reply Hythe set out with last week’s openers James Page and Pete Stevens Jnr, however the combination fared less well this time around. Page was bowled for a golden duck and two overs later Stevens returned for just one, both bowled by A.Spearing who took 9-2-52-2. Ewan Bell came in and played some confident shots but just as he looked set he was bowled for 17 and Hythe were left on 31-3 off ten overs. The next 8 overs passed with little alarm for either team as the game looked set for a draw, Greg Woods and Matt Young taking the score to 50 before Woods was caught behind for a fine 20. Now with only 18 overs left to play Hythe needed 145 to win and a seemingly impossible task.

In came Rich Last and batted to his natural game – hit out or get out. After taking one ball to get himself in he then set upon the Compton attack drilling the first over for 13 runs. His first six was followed quickly by a flurry of fours and another six as he rapidly accelerated to 40 in just 5 overs at the crease. When Young was run out for 6 their partnership had been 52 off 6 overs and there was no sign of Last giving up. He quickly brought up his half-century and put on 65 for the loss of Moore (6) and Tongs (15) and Hythe were right back in with a chance of winning.

At 172 The green caps lost their 8^th wicket as Stovell was run out for a duck and at this stage any result was possible. Hythe needed 27 off four overs whilst Compton required just two wickets. The game was turned Hythe’s way as Howe joined Last and struck 3 fours in his 14* as he helped guide the team home. The final blow was delivered by Last, a crunching four through extra cover and Hythe had won by two wickets with 11 balls still remaining. The final 17 overs were dispatched at a run rate of over 8.5 as Last finished on 94* in a truly great innings which included 3 sixes and 11 fours.

Innings of : COMPTON & CHANDLERS FORD 198 For 5 (42 Overs)

Hythe Bowling

Innings of : HYTHE 199 For 8