FROM THE ATTIC- 4

From the Attic this week - Back to 2006.

Both side finished 5th in their respective leagues and our first tour to Devon saw Mike Bowman and Nardus Grobler break the all time batting record for Hythe & Dibden - an unbeaten stand of 246.

Nardus Grobbler arrived as our overseas player and made a great impact on the club and the up and coming players.

So the 3 games I've chosen - Hythe 1st XI's 1 wicket win over Mudeford who won promotion after finishing 3rd. Hythe 2nd XI's fine win over Verwood who also finished third and gained promotion. The final game Hythe's opening tour game against North Curry at the fantastic setting of Tauntons College.

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Hythe 1st XI vs Mudeford

Ben KENDRICK 60 & 3-49

'Hythe Upset The Formbook In a Nail Biter'

Hythe pulled off an excellent 1 wicket win against high flying Mudeford this afternnon.

With Richie Froggett unavailable Hythe chose to field first and chase down the runs. Simon Wright took the new ball with Nardus Grobler and the pair started well - Mudeford struggled to 27 for 1 off the first 8 overs. Whitlock and Grobler then took two wickets a piece to have the visitors struggling on 60 for 5. In the heat drop catches and poor fielding let Mudeford back into the game before Ben Kendrick chipped in with two quick wickets thanks to very good catches from Luke Mills and Dave Guymer.

Another wicket each for Grobler and Whitlock had the visitors 116 for 8 but a 55 run 9th wicket partnership meante Mudeford finished on a respectable 186 for 9 after their 45 overs.

The James brothers got Hythe off to a flyer with 38 coming off just 7 overs. But then things started to go pear shape as Robbie James was out for 27 soon followed by Simon Dixon after a miscommunication problem with Kev James. Hythe went past 50 only for Simon Wright (6) and Kev James (17) to lose their wickets soon afterwards - Hythe 53 for 4.

Time for the middle order to shine and they certainly obliged with Ben Kendrick and Dave Guymer setting them on their way. Guymer made a well fought 24 before losing his wicket at 94 for 5. Kendrick started to hit the boundaries more freely well backed up by Grobler who was next out for 15 Hythe 137 for 6. The last of the recognised batsman Paul Whitlock joined his mate in the middle and the pair were looking set to win the game when Kendrick was caught for a very good 60. Hythe still 32 runs short.

Al Taylor didn't last long but Whitlock was starting to find his timing and the boundary ropes hitting 3 excellent fours. He was well supported by young Russell Moore and the pair took the scores level before Whitlock was run out for 23. But Moore scored the winning run with just 5 balls remaining to record an excellent win for Hythe.

Innings of : Mudeford 186 For 9 (45 Overs)

Hythe Bowling

Innings of : Hythe 1st XI - 187 For 9 (44.1 Overs)

Hythe 2nd XI vs Verwood

Ewan BELL 53*

Bellie Sees Hythe Home in Nail Biter To Keep Promotion Hopes Alive.

With all the top batsman back in the pavilion - it was left to Ewan Bell 53* and Richie Bunce 24 to see Hythe to victory against promotion rivals Verwood.

Verwood won the toss and elected to bat first. Hythe's opening bowlers Bunce and Tim Bath started well but after a slow start the Verwood batsman started to take the initiative. Skipper Mike Bowman to everyone's surprise then pulled off a masterstroke by bowling veteran Pete Stevens up the hill. Stevens bowled 9 straight and took two crucial wickets. Richie Bunce bounced back with 3 wickets thanks to some good cathces in the field by Bell, Stevens and Matt Howe. An excellent run out by Russell Moore and a good catch behing the stumps from Gary Howe restricted Verwood to 167 for 8 from their 42 overs.

Hythe got off to the worst possible start losing Matt Howe caught & bowled for 0, but Sean Tongs and Wayne Effeny then added 42 before Effeny was bowled for 10 - Hythe 42 for 2.

Mike Bowman looked good before being caught behind for 15 and Tongs was 4th out for 26. When Gary Howe was out for 9, Hythe were 98 for 5 with all their top batsman gone. Ewan Bell and Richie Bunce didn't look comfortable with each other in the middle as tensions rose after some awful running between the wickets. But they settled down after a few overs and both started to play some excellent shots. The pair put on 57 for the 6th wicket before Bunce was bowled for an important 24. Hythe then lost Moore and Bath in consecutive balls and Hythe were now 162 for 8 still needing 6 to win.

But Bellie with his (no middle) Argos bat was still there and brought up his fifty with a well run 3 much to the disgust of Pete Stevens at the other end. Stevens followed that up with a boundary of his own to win the game with 17 balls to spare. Bellie finishing 53 not out.

Innings of : Verwood 167 For 8 (42 Overs)

Hythe Bowling

Innings of : Hythe 2nd XI 168 For 8 (40.1 Overs)

Hythe XI vs North Curry (Somerset)

Nardus GROBLER 138*		Mike BOWMAN 103*
21 - 4's	4 - 6's	11 - 4's	0- 6's
Unbeaten 246 Opening Stand

Grobler & Bowman Follow De Silva and Tendulkar

Set in the beautiful grounds of Taunton College Hythe played their first tour game of the same pitch that hosted Aravinda De Silva and Sachin Tendulkar just 3 days earlier.

Alan Taylor skippered the side and negotiated to bat first on a fantastic looking strip for batting. Mike Bowman and Nardus Grobler had the luxury of going first and didn't waist time playing some excellent shots. Hythe's fifty came up in only the 8th over and 100 in the 14th over as both batsman found the boundary with ease. Grobler was first to his fifty which included 9 fours. Bowman soon followed hitting 6 fours in the process.

At drinks (20 overs) Hythe had moved onto 130 for 0 and poor old Froggie who was next in - was itching to get into the middle. At this stage Grobler started to let loose. Hythe's 150 came up in the 22nd over and just 4 overs late Grobler had reached his first ton for the Green Caps (14 x 4's, 1 x 6) The 200 came up in the 28th over and everyone was looking for the record books. In the 32nd over Kev James and Eugene's record of 242 had passed and Nardus agreed to retire on 138 not out. 2 overs later and Mike Bowman also reached his century and sportingly agreed to retire 103*. Rich Froggett hit a rapid fire 24 before being caught in the final over and The Guru received the biggest cheer on the day for a second ball duck. Hythe finishing on 308 for 2.

With 'The Guru' taking the gloves, Hythe opened the bowling with Kev James and Tim Bath. Again the batsman took control reachibg 96 for 0 off the first 15 overs. Richie Froggett finally got the break through with the score on 99 and Hythe had a good 15 minutes as the score then went to 110 for 3 thanks to cathces from Taylor and Robbie James off the bowling of Froggett and Steve Miller. Millers 5 overs going for just 19 runs which on that pitch was excellent figures.

With the game now over Taylor introduced several bowlers into the frame. None had success as Selsey and Golbey put on an unbeaten 133 for the 4th wicket. Hythe though ran out winners by 65 runs.

Fantastic venue and a partnership to remember.

Innings of : Hythe 1st XI 308 For 2 (40 Overs)

Innings of : North Curry 243 For 3 (40 Overs)

Hythe Bowling