Hampshire County 2

PYLEWELL PARK vs HYTHE 1st XI

Saturday 8th August

BETTER PERFORMANCE BY DEPLETED HYTHE BUT SAME RESULT.

A depleted Hythe side put in an encouraging performance before going down to 4th place Pylewell Park on Saturday. Without 5 regulars and Richie Froggett carrying a badly bruised knee for three parts of the game the green caps were finally beaten by 4 wkts and four overs remaining.

Richie FROGGETT 62	Jon WEALL 3-36

Robbie James won the toss and elected to bat first on a lovely day down at the scenic ground of Pylewell Park. Illness to Mike Edwards meant a call up for Sean Tongs to open the innings with Robbie James. The pair got off to a decent start scoring 40 off the first 9 overs with James inparticular looking in fine form. At 42 though Hythe lost their first wicket when Tongs holed out at fine leg - Gates taking a good catch off Woolgar. Kev James scored 8 before getting out to a shot he won't want to remember - Hythe 65 for 2 off 18 as the run rate started to slow. Soon after Richie Froggett took a ball from a strong throw-in straight on the knee - which somehow avoided the pad. Play was delayed for the wee man to recoup and early drinks were taken .

As you would expect though - Froggett continued and he and Rob James took the score to 88 when James was bowled by the menacing spin of Royan for 47. Steve Weall soon followed for 2 and were Hythe 94 for 4 off 28 with not much to come. ' as said by Tom Gates'. Froggett then up'ed the pace hitting Brooks for 10 and 16 off two overs including 4x4's and 2x6's, In the middle of that he brought up his fifty but the chopsy Brooks had the last laugh having him caught & bowled for 62. Hythe 156 for 5 off 37. James Page 20 and Richard Last 24* added useful runs at the end to take Hythe past the 200 mark to 202 for 7 off their 45 overs.

A splendid tea and Hythe took the field with 2 main bowlers, another hobbling and two rookies in Last and Moore. Was 200 enough !!!

Gates and Royan got the home side off to a good start with 45 coming off the first 10. Froggett (0-22 off 5) struggling with his knee was then replaced by Last with Saunders coming on for Weall (0-21 off 5) skipper James ringing the changes looking for a breakthrough. In Saunders 2nd over they finally got it as the impressive Gates was well caught at square leg by Moore for 29. Another 41 was added before Hythe took a 2nd wicket - that when Last bowled Royan for 38 - Pylewell 101 for 2 off 20. Woolgar and Brooks rode their luck to put on 79 for the third wicket before Weall returned to snap up both wickets. Woolgar scored 52 including 5x4's and 2x6's whilst Brooks 47 inc 6x4's. Pylewell 184 for 4 off 36.

Weall then snapped up Loseby L.B.W for 5 at 189. The impressive Last then had Sterling bowled for 0 at 198 but too little too late and the home skipper knocked off the remaining runs with 4 overs to spare.

Another defeat but a much improved performance by the green caps after the Langley Manor debacle. Last and Moore bowled well and gives James options next week if the injury list doesn't get any better. One win will guarantee safety and hopefully Basingstoke & North Hants next week will be the one.

Innings of : HYTHE & DIBDEN 202 For 7 (45 Overs)

Innings of : PYLEWELL PARK 203 For 6 (41.1 Overs)

Hythe Bowling