Hampshire S.W Regional Div 2

HYTHE 2nd XI vs NEW MILTON III

Saturday 13th June

An excellent all round display from the Green caps ensured a fourth consecutive victory

Pete STEVENS 2-35	Chalky WHITE 3-18

Hythe welcomed New Milton thirds to Jones’ Lane and were full of confidence having dispatched bogey team Ellingham last week. Captain Mike Bowman lost the toss and New Milton decided to bat on another well prepared Hythe wicket.

Opening the bowling was Richard Bunce and Russell Moore and in the first over Bunce tempted New Milton’s captain into looping a full toss straight to Luke Mills at mid-off. Moore, also in his first over, removed the other openers helmet with a fierce bouncer.

The pair bowled well to restrict New Milton on a track that should have produced a 200+ score. Replacing them were Pete Stevens and Lee Powell who picked up the cudgels and ground New Milton even further into the ground. Despite a second wicket partnership of 89 the runs came too slowly and tight bowling was rewarded when Stevens expertly bowled both players to leave the visitors on 103-3.

From then on it was all Hythe as New Milton crumbled to the experience of Ian White and Wayne Effeny. Firstly, Chalkey picked up the fourth wicket before Wayne picked up the fifth with the score only on 133. Then in one over Hythe showed why they’re on a winning streak. Ian White tempted the lower order into hitting big and Russell Moore took an excellent catch on the boundary before moments later a similar delivery was met with a copycat shot and once more Moore picked the ball out of the sky at deep mid-wicket.

Ewan Bell then atoned for his earlier drop, the only drop of the innings, by scoring a direct hit on the stumps with only one stump to aim at. New Milton were eventually bowled out when Wayne Effeny clean bowled the final batsman as the visitors only had ten men so they finished on 142 all out.

The Green caps knew this was well below par and in the absence of Tom Porter skipper Mike Bowman opened himself alongside Sean Tongs. Just two balls into the innings and New Milton’s opening bowler pulled up lame and after seven overs they had already used four bowlers.

Tongs and Bowman then took Hythe past the fifty mark with consummate ease and it was not until the 21^st over that the visitors made their breakthrough when Tongs was caught for 48, ending an 86 run partnership. With the stage well set Wayne Effeny joined Bowman at the crease and sought about knocking off the remaining runs. The pair took the score to 118 before Effeny was caught with victory in sight.

Sure enough Hythe then coasted to the total with six overs to spare as Ewan Bell and Mike Bowman finished the job unbeaten. Mike playing a captain’s innings to complete the victory by 8 wickets and secure maximum points for the Green caps.

Innings of : NEW MILTON III 142 All Out (44.1Overs)

(D.Crossley 50, M.Waller 47, R.Davis 16)

Hythe Bowling

Catches - R.Moore 2, L.Mills, E.Bell 1r/o

Innings of : HYTHE 143 For 2 (36Overs)