Hampshire South West Regional Division 2

TOTTON & ELING III's Vs HYTHE & DIBDEN 2nd XI

30th August 2008

Rejuvenated Edwards Sees Hythe To Final Day Win

Hythe 2nd XI Completed their league season with a fine 3 wicket win over Totton & Eling at Calmore Rec. Hythe boosted by the return of Mike Edwards chased down 210 to win and finish the season in 10th place which is much better than anticipated pre season. Edwards hit 66 not out almost doubling what he has scored from the 6 other innings he has batted this year. Wayne Effeny hit 51 to top the averages for this year and Gary Howe chipped in with 31*. Earlier Edwards was the pick of the bowlers taking 3-37 off 12 overs.

Totton won the toss and elected to bat on a pitch which did not look at all likely to produce many runs. Local knowledge soon proved that playing positively could bring rewards with short boundaries to aim for and so the frugal bowling of Mike Edwards (12 overs 3 for 37), Lee Powell (6 overs 2 for 17) and Wayne Effeny (12 overs 1 for 43) was to be applauded.

Meanwhile Ian White and Greg Woods suffered much of the onslaught but on another day Greg in particular may have been spared had any of the four difficult chances that were offered from his bowling been accepted. Totton closed their innings on a formidable 209 for 7 from 42 overs with catches being held by W. Effeny, M Young, I White and G Howe. While M Edwards, W Effeny and L Powell each clean bowled one victim.

In reply Sean Tongs (0) was caught behind in the first over but a stand of 56 between Mike Bowman (21) and Wayne Effeny (51) laid the foundations for the innings. However when Mike Graham (14) departed in the 19^th over with the score on 88 and Pete Stevens (0) was run out in the following over the halfway total of 89 for 4 probably favoured Totton. The wickets of Effeny, Matt Young (1) and Lee Powell (0) soon followed and with the score on 119 for 7 in the 28^th over Totton scented victory. It was at this point that Mike Edwards (66*) produced a chanceless innings of controlled aggression which turned the match on its head and with Gary Howe chipping in (31*) at the other end an unbroken eighth wicket partnership of 91 in only 9 overs saw Hythe to a 3 wicket victory in the 37^th over. Surprisingly only one six was hit by a Hythe batsman (Edwards) compared with the eight sixes in the Totton innings.

Innings of : TOTON & ELING III 209 For 7 (42 Overs)

Hythe Bowling

Innings of : HYTHE 210 For 7 (37 Overs)