Hants County Div 2

HYTHE 1st XI vs BURRIDGE

Saturday 20th June

CLOSE GAME BUT HYTHE SLIP TO 5TH DEFEAT

Richie Froggett 53

Hythe 1st XI slipped to a 10 run loss at the hands of Burridge and a 5th consecutive defeat after reducing the visitors to 196 for 8. Richie Froggett again top scored for the green caps scoring 53. James Page hit a quick fire 37* at the end but run out of time and partners.

Stand in Hythe skipper Robbie James won the toss and elected to field first on a very dry wicket.

Jon Weall and and the half fit Richie Froggett started off well and reduced the visitors to just 28 off the first 10 overs. Even that was helped by a schoolboy error in the field from Jack Daniels who told Pagey to shy at the stumps at every attempt only for him to let it go underneath him for 4 overthrows.

Jon Weall's first spell ended at 5 overs for 17 and the luckless Froggett 7 overs for 11 - who had two chances dropped by Kev James behind and Rob Saunders in the slips. Hythe did however get the breakthrough in the 16th over thanks to Tom Porter catching B.Lane off Chalky White. 58-1 which an over after drinks became 68 for 2 when Matt Howe caught N.Park off Rob Saunders.

By the 33rd over the visitors had moved onto 113 for 2 but then the dangerous Mepham was out to the returning Jon Weall for 27. Rob Saunders had finished his spell for a fine 1-24 off 10 and Chalky White 1-42 off 10. Burridge were now needing to up the tempo and they did so through White 45 and Hardcastle 26. Matt Howe then got two wickets in two balls to peg the back to 155-5. A couple of useful 18 run partnerships from the tail took Burridge upto 196 for 8 at the end. Jon Weall finishing with 3-50 but spare a thought for Froggett 1-22 off 9.

Hythe opened with Rob James and Marc Daniels with the ball flying in all directions. Burridge got the brerakthrough in the 4th over when Daniels once again failed L.B.W for 4. James and Matt Howe took the score upto 38 off 12 overs when James was caught for 15. Matt Howe also went for 15 at 56 for 3 and Hythe looked nervous. Froggett and Tom Porter rallied adding 24 before Porter was out for 22 inc 3x4's & 1x6. Kev James played himself in reluctantly taking the singles and scoring 18 before he was caught, and when Mike Edwards 1 was out soon after Hythe were in trouble at 124 for 6. Froggett reached his fifty to keep Hythe in with a chance - in front of mum and dad An innings which included 7x4's and 1x6.

He and Page put on 15 before Froggett was finally out for 53 and with time running out it was left to Page to get Hythe past the 175 bonus point. He then lost Jon Weall as a partner - cruely judged out LBW for 1 and then Rob Saunders 2.

White stuck around to see Page hit 5x4's in a 37* but in the last over with nothing to lose Chalky had a wild swing to be stumped for 7 and Hythe had lost by 10 runs.

A close game in which the result certainly could have gone either way - so onto next week and a basement battle with United Services. Hythe hopefully will welcome back Richard Last and Nardus Grobler but with Dixon and Wright definately out, Daniels on holiday and Edwards and Froggett injured it could certainly be an interesting team selection.

Innings of : BURRDIGE 196 For 8 (45 Overs)

Hythe Bowling

Innings of : HYTHE 186 All Out (44.5 Overs)