TONY WOODHOUSE TROPHY 2009

FAWLEY SUNDAY 2nd XI vs HYTHE SUN 2nd XI

Sunday 9th August

McElhenny Holds Hope Hythe's Title

Luke BLACKWELL

Debut 3-15

Fawley hold onto a draw to leave Hythe one wicket shy of trophy success. A good recovery from Hythe set up the chance of victory but a defiant tail-end battle from the Oilers means that the Green caps have to hope for a draw in the final game between Fawley and Sway

A young Hythe side travelled to the Hardley School ground for the final fixture in this seasons Tony Woodhouse trophy for the Green caps. The visitors in the knowledge that a 17 point win would secure the trophy’s return to Jones’ Lane.

The day started on the wrong foot for Hythe when skipper Russell Moore lost the toss and saw his team inserted to bat. The situation got worse though as Tom Richards was run out without facing a ball while Jonjo Stovell was clean bowled to leave the score on 2-2.

Hythe, who were already weakened by the absentees of Ben and Harry Smith, then fell further into trouble as the stars of the Sway match, Keiran Chalmers and Sean Tongs were both dismissed cheaply. After a couple of lusty blows Sam Mead also departed before Paul Quinell became the sixth Green cap victim with the score only just having passed the 50 mark.

Matt Young, who had been around since the first over, then found an able partner in Russell Moore as Hythe rebuilt their innings. The pair played sensibly until Young was finally dismissed for a defiant 39. Captain Moore then found himself alongside number 9 Tom Huxley who played a positive innings of 29 to push the Green caps to a competitive total. When the innings closed on 155-9, Moore was unbeaten on 34 and Hythe had one hand back on the TW trophy.

In reply the Green caps wanted a good start and Moore provided it with a superb delivery to dismiss the opening batsmen in the first over. Before long Hythe had a second when Luke Blackwell picked up a wicket courtesy of an extraordinary catch by Tom Richards at slip. Hythe then pushed further into the ascendancy when Quinell took a steepling catch off Jonjo Stovell’s bowling which brought Ian McElhenny to the crease.

His wicket was the precious one and although Tom Richards picked up two wickets in quick succession it was a dropped catch by Stovell that proved pivotal as McElhenny was given a lifeline. However, Hythe continued to push on and when Josh Mead picked up the key wicket of Lawrence Reed the Green caps could sense that they were closing in on the victory.

With runs not an issue as Fawley never threatened the total it was down to the decreasing overs that gave the Green caps the most concern. With less than ten overs to play Luke Blackwell picked up two vital wickets to finish with figures of 8-2-15-3.

This meant Matt Head joined McElhenny at the crease and the pair proved stubborn in defence as Hythe piled on the pressure. With just two and a half overs to go, returning captain Russell Moore bowled Matt Head to bring in the last batsman as excitement levels flew through the roof.

The game fell into the final over and Moore took aim at Fawley’s final man but was resiliently denied as the Oilers clung on to finish 92-9. Ian McElhenny playing a crucial role with his 45*. So Hythe fell narrowly short of securing the trophy, but a draw or rained off game between Sway and Fawley next time would still see the trophy return.

Innings of : HYTHE 155 For 9 (39 Overs)

Fawley Bowling : (I.McElhenny 2-9, M.Head 2-17, S.Jones 2-39)

Innings of : FAWLEY 92 For 9 (37 Overs)

Hythe Bowling

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