NEW FOREST UNDER 17 LEAGUE

HYTHE UNDER 17's vs BASHLEY RYDAL

Thursday 11th June

Tom RICHARDS

Positive 21 inc 1 six & 2 fours

14 Dismal Overs In The Field Then We Woke Up

Hythe Under 17's one match winning streak came to an abrupt end against Bashley Rydal tonight. The Bashley openers both scored fifties helped by some sluggish fielding from the Green Caps - then after 14 overs Hythe took charge of the game claiming 6 wickets. Had it been earlier then it could have been a much different game.

Hythe took to the field first with Ben Smith having the luxury of putting out his strongest side of the season. Smith and Luke Blackwell opened the bowling with Blackwell struggling toi find his lenght. After 4 overs Bashley had scored 19-0 and Smith made a double change with brother Harry and Sam Page taking over. Harry had no luck what soever with the ball dropping between fielders and Jonjo Stovell on the boundary looking more like 'Andy Pandy' than a cricketer as he let two fours through.

Harrys 2 overs went for 19 and Page 12 as Bashley progressed to 80-0 after just 8 overs. Tom Richards then went for 18 off 2 overs and Huxley 15. Hythe were being ripped apart. Stovell also had no joy going for 13 off his one over. Todd Powell bowled a tidy 1 over for 6 and then both Davis 50* and Argyll 52* had to retire. Ben Smith then came back for the 14th over which went for just a single. Blackwell bowled the 15th and finally a wkt - Harry Smith catching S.Scott 1 @ 118 for 1.

Ben Smith then had an over to remember. He claimed two wickets in two balls both caught and bowled. Then bowled A.Kerr with his final ball to finish with 3-1 in his second spell. Luke Blackwell then claimed 2 more wickets in the final over thanks to very good catches on the boundary from Sam Mead and Tom Huxley. Bashley finishing on 123 for 6. Oh if only we could have got those wickets much earlier and what a different game it could have been.

Hythe opened with Stovell and Ben Smith. Smith was out suqaring himself up for 3 - Hythe 6 for 1. That brought Tom Richards to the crease who gave the crowd twenty minutes of quality batting. Richards scoring 21 including a 6 and 2 fours and moving his feet to the ball like we haven't seen this year. Unfortunately with the score on 31 he was out due to a mix up with Jonjo Stovell.

Stovell then came out of his shell before being stumped by Taylor for 14 and Harry Smith fell caught off Taylor for 8. Matt Young came in smashed 2 fours and then was adjudged L.B.W for 8 - Hythe 61 for 5. Sam Mead 15 and Tom Huxley rallied to take the score to 94 for 7 at the close and Bashley had won by 29 runs.

Hythe's batting was positive throughout but this game was lost in the first 14 overs with the bowlers bowling 13 wides and some shabby fielding. Bowlers changing their actions each week can't help either. The disappointing thing is that these guys should be pushing for a second team spot and at the moment some are a long way off.

Innings of : BASHLEY RYDAL 123 For 6 (18 Overs)

(A.Argyll 52*, J.Davis 50*)

Hythe Bowling

Hythe Catches : T.Huxley 1, B.Smith 2, H.Smith 1, S.Mead 1

Innings of : HYTHE 94 For 7 (18 Overs)