WESTBOURNE vs HYTHE XI

Sunday 28th September

@ Commonside, Westbourne

Harry 'Houdini' Conjures Up Another Close Win For Bellie

Harry Smith 6-25

If Last weeks 5 run over Ashurst wasn't remarkable enough - Bellie's makeshift side pulled off another impossible yesterday when they beat Westbourne by 7 runs in West Sussex. Chasing 168 to win the homeside were cruising at 152 for 4 (needing just 16 runs) when Harry Smith took charge of the game. Harry finished with 6-25 off just 5.4 overs.

Earlier - Hythe put into bat - saw Sean Tongs open the batting and score another half century (59) which meant that Matt Howe had to score 12 to take the Sunday Batting Title for 2008. Howe batting at 8 scored 26* to take Hythe's innings to 167 for 7 at tea. Sam Mead chipped in with a useful 16 including one towering six.

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On a lovely Septembers morning Hythe travelled down the coast to the tiny village of Westbourne for their final friendly of the season. Bellie's side included 6 colts and Jonjo's dad who stepped in to save me getting my whites out.

Hythe lost the toss and were asked to bat playing a timed game.

There were no shortages of players asking to bat up the order EXCEPT Matt Howe who wanted to protect his average knowing Tongsy needed a good knock to have any chance of taking the Sunday title from him. Meanwhile Harry Smith needed a bowling average of 7 for the day to take the bowling title from Uni bound Greg Woods.

In the end Bellie opened up the batting with Sean Tongs and Bianca (Jonjo) Stovell. Ten balls later Bellie was walking to the crease as Bianca was caught for 1. On a low track runs were hard to come by but Bell and Tongs added another 36 before Bell was second out caught off the bowling of Riche for 6. Hythe 38 for 2. Harry Smith (renound for running the Guru out) came in at 4 (probably at the request of Matty). but at 67 he also went for 6 Hythe 3 down.

With the Guru playing the anchor role Sam Mead came in with his eyes taking a shine to the short boundaries on three sides of the ground. Mead hit a four and a towering six in a good knock of 16 taking the score past the ton mark to 108 for 4 in the 34th over. Hythe needed to move the score along now with only half an hour till tea. James Page smashed a six in a short knock off 11 whilst Ben Smith added 12. Tongs passed his 54th fifty of the past decade including 7x4's before finally being bowled by Riche for 59. Matt Howe 26* and Tom Huxley added an unbeaten 34 to take us upto tea and 167 for 7. Howe hit 2x4's and 1x6 to take the batting title for 2008 from his batting mentor of the last few years Sean Tongs.

But well done to both players - in a season when the Sunday XI hasn't been at their strongest Howe finshed with 461 Sunday run @ 41.9 whilst Tongs scored 706 runs @ 39.22

After a good tea - which at one stage the home side were concerned if there was going to be anything left for them after are youngsters got hold of it - Hythe took to the field with Ben Smith insisting that he was going to bowl seam rather than his usual troublesome spin. Westbourne got off to a positive start with 25 on the board after 7 overs before Ben Smith got the breakthough thanks to a first class catch by Pagey in the slips. (Wrighty would have been proud of that one)

Bianca finished his spell 0-14 off 5 to be replaced by dad Barry who had not bowled for years only in the garden. First ball - three bounces to the other end - no ball, - 2nd and 3rd wide but you just knew if the batsman did get a chance to hit it then he would get caught. 4th ball wide and fifth ball finally a dot through sympathy of the umpire. Sixth ball out Rickard well caught by Kev McCarthy for 0. Barry had got his wicket something that son Bianca couldn't do and into the avergaes he goes. Would Bellie cave in and give him another over NO not with Pagey pestering him to come on.

Kev McCarthy came on for Ben Smith who had run himself into the ground bowling off a 8 pace run up for 5 overs - not something he's use to. Now the game started to turn for the homeside - ex Petersfield player P.Dickin decided he wasn't going to run and score everything in boundaries. Of his first 41runs only 1 single the rest boundaries 4x4's 4x6's. At drinks and the start of 20 overs the home side were 82 for 2 needing just another 86 to win. The chirpieness in the Hythe outfield started to disintergrate from earlier as catches went down. The skipper put down 2 and The Guru 1. Then the next 2 overs went for 19 as Hythe looked beaten. 'Where's Harry' shouted Chiv as Bellie continued with McCarthy and Pagey. But next over Pagey gets a big wicket as Dickin finally goes - caught on the boundary by Skip Bell for a fine 59. Westbourne 117 for 3.

Thankfully that was Pageys last over 1-45 off 7- ' But I did bowl some rippers ' he said. Trumpets out oncomes Harry. 2 runs off his first over to warm up but next over wicket - skipper Haines (usually the opener) bowled for 2 Westbourne 123 for 4. Harrys third over not so good as Ex Portsmouth & Southsea player J.Riches hit 2 towering sixes and a four in the over. Westbourne closing in 144 for 4 needing 23 off 8 overs. McCarthy bowled his final over 10 overs 0-35 then the big over as Harry bowls R.Dickin (38) and B.Jones for 2 in the same over. Tom Huxley then bowls dangerman Riches for 18 Westbourne 159 for 7 still needing 9 to win. Next over another wicket as the Westbourne lads can't believe whats happening. 'Colts should be banned ' said their skipper. Harry again bowls Gwenlan for 0. Bellie now keen for the win brings back Ben Smith in spin mode and a single off his first over. Westbourne 160 for 8 with 3 overs to go.

In comes Harry again with the Hythe banter back to full volumne in the field. Four balls later game over Eyres stumped by Matt Howe for 1 and Berger bowled by Harry for 0. Hythe win by 7 runs and Harry finishes with 6-25.

Great win for Bellie's side and thanks to the 11 lads for completing the fixture list with a reasonable size journey. In a season which has been dampened by the constant interference from the football section and the skate park its great to see a young Hythe side pull off two close victories in the past weeks superbly lead by Belly and well supported by Matt and Sean.

After the game down to the local for the traditional drink with the home side who very generously supplied the lads with sausages and fries. Needless to say Bianca (Jono) put in his best peformance of the day by polishing off the food.

Innings of : HYTHE 167 For 7 (43 Overs)

(J.Riches 4-25)

Innings of : WESTBOURNE 160 All Out (36.4 Overs)

(P.Dickin 59 inc 4x4's 6x6's, R.Dickin 38, J.Riches 18)

Hythe Bowling