Hampshire County Division 2

Hythe & Dibden 1st XI vs Cadnam

16th August Played @ Jones Lane

Sponsored by : Stephenson Sheppard & Co

Depleted Hythe Go Close Against Promotion Hunters

I say go close but you could have said blew it as Hythe chasing 105 to win crumbled to 89 all out. Richard Last top scored with 15

Cadnam won the toss and elected to bat first - 10 overs later at 17 for 5 they probably wished they hadn't.

Hythe opener Richie Froggett claimed the prize wicket of Cadnam aussie Ben Smith in the first over for 0 caught behind by Kev James. Two overs later he then bowled the visitors skipper P.Jewer for 4 and Cadnam 6-2 off 4.The great start continued when dangerman Paul Kerley was caught behind off Weallo for 4. Weallo then had R.Way caught by Dixon for 4. When N.Way was run out by Pagey for 2 Cadnam were reeling at 17 for 5 off 10.

Richard Last replaced Weallo for his debut first team bowl and Wrighty came up the hill with immeadiate success claiming 2 wickets with his 5th and 6th balls - both bowled J.Prior for 2 and P.Elliott for 0 - Cadnam 27 for 7. Umpire Trevor Vaughan even said that the first 15 overs the ball was unplayable.

Meanwhile S.Pollock who opened was steadily building his innings as his team mates came and went. He and Lawrence took the score to 53 off 30 overs when Lawrence was caught by Last off Weallo for 4. Hythe though couldn't get another wicket and S.Pollock 49* and A.Green 23* put on 51 in the final 15 overs to finish on 104 for 8 off their 45 overs.

All credit to the Green Caps though - all their bowlers bowled well and the fielding throughout was very good. Froggett 2-18 off 12 and Wrighty 2-16 off 10 were the most economical whilst Weallo 3-32 was the main wicket taker. Rich Last in his first bowling performance 0-21 off 7 a very decent effort.

If that was Hythe at their best then after tea certainly wasn't with aussie Ben Green getting his own back for his first over duck. At 18 the dependable Robbie James got a corker of a bouncer from Green and was caught for 7, two runs later Howe was caught off the bowling of 15 year old Elliott. Hythe were soon to become 21 for 3 as Wright got a cracker from Green bowling him for 1. Dixon was next to go when he was bowled not playing a shot for 10 - Hythe 29 for 4.

Kev James and Richie Froggett took the score to 50 before Froggett was the 6th man out for 14 again bowled not playing a shot for 14. Page soon followed Hythe 52 for 6 - where was Whits when you need someone to get us out of a mess. Richard Last (15) hit 3 fours 2 against the oz before Green got his own back kncoking two stumps out of the ground and when Kev James was another clean bowled victim of Green at 83 for 8 Hythe were as good as beat.

Venugopal bowled Weallo for 0 and then with Jewers first ball he caught & bowled Harry Smith for 0 leaving Mills stranded on 2 not out. Cadnam win by 15 runs - not a bad effort considering how many first teamers were out BUT tomorrow morning how many of the team will wake up and say they gave their wickets away?

Innings of : CADNAM 104 For 8 (45 Overs)

Hythe Bowling.

Innings of : HYTHE 89 All Out (38.1Overs)

( B.Green 5-15, R.Venugopal 3-21)