New Forest Stone Cup Semi-Finals

Bashley Rydal vs Hythe & Dibden 2nd XI

23rd June Played @ Bashley Park.

Stand Up For The Guru As Hythe Go Close

Always billed as a tough ask Hythe 2nd XI put in a great fighting effort before going down to a strong Bashley side in this semi final of the New Forest Stone Cup by 14 runs. Chasing 132 to win hats off to 'The Guru' Sean Tongs for taking the fight to the homeside. He carried his bat until the final ball of the innings scoring 77including 9 fours.

Unfairly sometimes 'The Guru' often has his critics but when 21 players want to shake your hand as you walk off the pitch then you know you've played a very good innings.

Hythe took to the field on a sunny evening with 12th man Woodsy on the pitch for veteran Wayne Effeny. Skipper Mike Bowman opened the bowling with Steve Miller and Chalky White but on a lovely ground with a lightning outfield keeping the score down was always going to be a problem. After the first 4 overs Bashley had moved onto 22 for 0. Miller then got the breakthrough Hythe wanted clean bowling Digby for 7. Miller and White bowled their 4 overs each off the peg and at 8 overs Bashley had moved onto 48-1. Miller once again impressive 1-19 off 4.

Mike Bowman's decisons were made harder when after Effeny turned up a knee problem prevented him from bowling. ( Should have kept Woodsy on someone said) The young pair of Lee Powell and Ben Smith came on first change and once Powell found his length he started to beat the bat. In his second over he claimed Hythe's second wicket having Ward caught by Steve Miller for 24 and Bashley 60-2 off 10.2 overs.

For Bashley Terry Steadman started to up the pace with the support of G.Jones. 17 runs came off the next 3 overs and 12 off the next from Pete Stevens jnr who had replaced Lee Powell.

Steadman reached his fifty as the score moved upto 110-2 off 16 overs. In the 17th over however Jones became Powell's second wicket when he was well caught by James Page.

Another 13 came off the expensive Stevens jnr's last over and Bashley finished on 131 for 3 with Steadman unbeaten on 55.

A tall order for the Green Caps and Hythe very much relying on the senior players as the youngsters tucked into the barbeque. Tom Porter opened with Sean Tongs and Hythe quickly moved onto 16 from the first 2 overs. In the 3rd though Porter was run out for 6 and Hythe 18-1.

Peg leg Effeny joined The Guru but received the ball of the night and was bowled by O'Sullivan for 4 - Hythe 33-2 off 5. Skipper in and a decent partnership began to grow. The pair took the score to 74 before Bowman was stumped off the bowling of Steadman in the 13th over for 10.

With 11 an over now required Tongs started to open up. Gary Howe made 5 before he was 4th out, bowled by Marsh. Hythe 94 for 4 off 15 overs but with 6 players on the boundary things were always in Bashley's favour. Sean Tongs reached a well deserved 50 and with Steve Miller 4* took the score to 110 for 4 with one over to go- Hythe still requiring 22 off the final over. 7 came off the first 5 and with the final ball Tongs was eventually bowled for 77 but everybody in the ground appreciated what a good fight he had taken to Bashley.

So Bashley go onto the final but well done to the Hythe lads they certainly gave the Bashley Boys a game.

Toss Won by : Bashley Rydal

Innings of : BASHLEY RYDAL 131 For 3 (18 Overs)

Hythe Bowling.

Innings of : HYTHE 118 For 4 (18 Overs)

Bashley Bowling.