Hampshire S.W Regional Div 2

HYTHE 2nd XI vs BURLEY

Saturday 16th May

Hythe suffer second defeat as Australian batsman Ross takes control at Jones’ Lane.

The Green caps played their first home against Burley who won their league last year with an impressive 13 and 1 record. Hythe lost the toss and were put into bat which saw Sean Tongs and Tom Porter try to improve on their scoreless start last week in Bournemouth.

The pair started well before Porter was bowled for eight with the score on 26. This brought in Wayne Effeny who scored ten before becoming the second victim in the innings as Hythe stuttered slightly in the first few overs. The Green caps reached the half way stage on 50-2 as the Burley opening attack impressed with its pace and accuracy.

However, Hythe would capitalise on the change bowling as Tongs and Bowman began to hit their stride. After a 41 partnership Tongs was caught for 29 and this brought last weeks star Ewan Bell to the crease. Bell and captain Bowman soon hit their stride and brought Hythe closer towards a great target. Mike reached his fifty with a six before finally being dismissed for 65 while Bell was dismissed for 36. Late runs from Mike Edwards, Gary Howe and Russell Moore pushed the Green caps up to 198-7 and a very respectable total.

In reply, Burley began well with both openers looking comfortable at the crease. Mike Edwards opened with Wayne Effeny who had to leave early so bowled eight overs straight with no wicket but for only 13 runs. Unfortunately for Hythe the extra gap in the field proved costly as Burley began confidently knocking off the runs. Lee Powell managed to pick up the reigns for the Green caps as he provided the break-through by picking up the opener batsman with the score on 74. He also removed the other opener and caught another off the bowling of Pete Stevens as Burley stumbled to 95-3.

By this time however, Australian I. Ross had got into his stride and looked a very good technical player - again for the second week in a row, too good for this league. He cut into the spin bowling of Pete Stevens and in particular Ian White as Burley raced towards their target. He was dropped by Mike Edwards but by this stage Burley had plenty in the bag to get over the line. An impressive fiery spell from Russell Moore at the end was also too little too late as his wicket proved worthless when Burley reached 199-5 with three overs to spare.

I. Ross finished on 79 not out and for the second week in a row a single batsman cruelly punished Hythe. The Green caps will have to pick themselves up for the trip to Bashley and believe in their performance’s which have merited more so far.

Innings of : HYTHE 198 For 7 (42 Overs)

Innings of : BURLEY 199 For 5 (38.5 Overs)

(I.Ross 79, R.Munro 44, K.Hudson 34)

Hythe Bowling

Catches - Stevens, Powell, Howe& Moore