HYTHE SUNDAY XI vs BEDHAMPTON

Sunday 17th August

Played @ Jones Lane, Hythe

The Two Matts See Hythe Home In Last Ball Win

A cracking game of cricket played in a great spirit saw Hythe win off the last ball of the game when Matt Young hit the boundary needed. Matt Howe was the real hero scoring 76 not out including 8 fours to give Bellie another victory. Bellie also helped the cause when in the final over he gave Matt Howe not out when everyone else in the ground thought it was out. But there were no grunts from Bedhampton and its nice to see our young umpires finally not panic and put up their finger even when they're not sure.

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Once again Ewan Bell stood in for the absent Russell Moore and when he won the toss he had no qualms in fielding first against a good opposition.

Bedhampton got off to the worse possible start when club secretary Mike Collins ( so they say ) was responsible for two run outs and his team were 11-2. James Page ran out aussie import McFawn for 11 and Matt Howe - J.Nottage for 0.

Collins and skipper Clark started the recovery pushing the score to 38 before Collins headed towards his club mates - caught by Bowman off Richard Last. That brought in the run machine Martin Hovey who hit 43 off 49 balls including 4 fours and 3 sixes - mostly off poor Harry. At 123 Clark was caught by Matt Howe off Punchey Mills and then 4 runs later the prize wicket - Hovey bowled by Punchey - Bedhampton 127 for 5

It soon became 128 for 6 when Thomas was well caught by Hong Kong Mike in the slips off Mike Bowman for 0. A 33 run partnership between C.Hovey (17) and G.Quade took the score upto 161 when Howe took his second catch off Greg Woods. Another 33 was scored when Fenn was run out by Richard Last for 21 and Bedhampton declared on a competitive 196 for 8. G.Quade finished 19*. Hythe's best bowler Luke Mills 2-39 off 11 whilst it was good to see the machine thump in 1-11 off 5.

Sean Tongs (with new bat) and skipper Ewan Bell opened the innings and got Hythe off to a good start 69-0 off the first 20 Hythe then lost 2 wickets in successive overs Tongs went L.B.W to Clark for 34 inc 5 fours whilst Bell was bowled by McFann for 23.

Hythe needed to up the tempo with 128 needed off the final 20 overs and Howe provided it. Howe and Graham (15) took the score to 123 for 3 then Howe and Bowman (15)added 50 before losing his wicvket at 173 for 4. Hythe still needed 27 off 4 overs. Harry Smith was run out for 2 with 20 needed off 3. Enter Matt Young but with 3 only coming off the next over Hythe looked set for a draw needing 18 off 2 overs. Good running between the pair meant 8 off the next over leaving 10 needed off the last.

Two singles off the first two balls were followed by a two ( thanks Bellie) then two more singles left 15 year old Matt Young facing the final ball needing a four which he swept to square leg for victory. Matt Young finished on 9* whilst the impressive Matt Howe finished on 76* (inc 7 fours) to earn the praise of the County 1 side.

Well done too to Bedhampton for the way they play their Sunday cricket - without doubt always our best Sunday fixture

Innings of : BEDHAMPTON 196 For 8 (42 Overs)

(M.Hovey 47, D.Clark 43, T.Fenn 21)

Hythe Bowling

Innings of : HYTHE 199 For 5 (41 Overs)