Hampshire South West Regional Division 2

ELLINGHAM 2nd XI vs HYTHE & DIBDEN 2nd XI

6tH June 2009

Ewan BELL 82*

14 Fours

Bell Sets Up Third Successive Green Caps Victory

A superb unbeaten 82 from Ewan Bell and three wickets apiece for the returning Richard Bunce and wily spinner Chalkey’ White ensured a third win on the bounce for the second team.

Hythe travelled to bogey ground Ellingham in search of building on their previous two results. Mike Bowman again won the toss and decided to bat on a high scoring Ellingham track. That decision appeared to backfire immediately when Tom Porter was run out after being out of his crease when the bowler threw down the stumps having picked up Porter’s defensive shot. Soon after the opening bowler A. Redfearn was also troubling Tongs as the ‘Guru’ was struck on the helmet attempting a pull.

However, Hythe would strike back with the experience of Tongs and Wayne Effeny at the crease the pair forged a 124 run partnership at over six runs per over. The scoring rate slowed with some tight bowling from Wickson whose ten overs cost a mere 16 runs. Once more Hythe managed a little mid order stumble as first Tongs departed after completing his fifty, then Effeny fell victim before captain Bowman also lost his wicket in the space of four overs. Hythe had dropped from 129-1 to 143-4.

This only served to set the stage for Ewan Bell and Luke Mills who put the game firmly back in the Green caps grip. Scoring slowly at first the pair rebuilt the innings ensuring Hythe once again reached full batting points at the 200 mark. After that the impressive Bell started to accelerate and his ‘calypso’ batting took a mighty 22 runs off one over at the death. When Mills was run out on the final ball the partnership was worth 122 which meant Hythe had reached 265-5 and a score that suited the quick outfield.

The Green caps knew work still had to be done and when 10 was taken off Russell Moore’s first over Hythe knew they had a fight on their hands. Fortunately for the seconds, Richard Bunce was in fine form on his return as he picked up the first wicket in his second over. Moore then removed danger man A. Redfearn as Ellingham began to stumble and when Bunce picked up two more wickets in his spell the Green caps were totally in control.

Change bowlers Ian White and Lee Powell also both bowled excellently to deny any kind of comeback from the hosts with Chalkey picking up three wickets and Powell picking up two. Unfortunately for Hythe the final pair again denied them full bowling points as they held off Pete Stevens, Luke Mills and Russell Moore to bat out the final 15 overs and finish nine down for the second week in a row.

Toss Won by : Hythe

Innings of : HYTHE 2nd XI 265 For 5 (42 Overs)

Bashley Rydal : R.Marshall 2-57, P.Wickson 1-16)

Innings of : ELLINGHAM 187 For 9 (42 Overs)

(E.Galloway 29, D.Osbourne 22, C.Bagshot 41*)

Hythe Bowling

Catches - S.Tongs 2, Tom Porter 1