Hampshire South West Regional Division 2

VERWOOD vs HYTHE & DIBDEN 2nd XI

15th August 2009

Under Stength Hythe Collapse To Defeat After Good Start

Mike BOWMAN 25

An under strength Hythe second eleven fell to defeat at Verwood following an excellent innings from the opposition captain on an unprotected wicket. In reply Hythe began well but eventually crumbled to just 88 all out.

Hythe travelled to Verwood and after assessing the pitch were left surprised as the hosts decided to bat on what looked like a green wicket with good conditions for swing. This actually proved to be inside knowledge as Hythe would discover later on.

Hythe opened with Ian Prentice and Russell Moore and after a shaky start from Prentice he picked up the opening wicket with a high catch held by Steve Chiverton. Moore then also struck in the next over when he clean bowled the third Verwood bat. Prentice then went on to record four straight maidens as he settled into his rhythm and a second wicket proved this when he trapped the batsman LBW playing no shot.

At this stage it was already clear that Verwood captain M. Durrans would be the key wicket as he picked up runs at ease. The next wicket came when Lee Powell was given just reward for an excellent spell of bowling when Moore took a catch at mid-off. After a period of swings and misses from the next man Pete Stevens finally put him out of his misery when he clean bowled him to give Hythe their fifth wicket. Durrans at the other end was holding firm though and towards the end, although he lost partners when Chiverton picked up a wicket through an excellent catch on the rope from Tom Porter while the returning Moore also picked up another wicket, he managed to keep playing his shots an ended on 78* without giving away any chances during his innings.

Chasing 163 to win the Green caps started well with Mike Bowman and Tom Porter batting well on the wicket that was now tearing up. Apparently Verwood had only just purchased a roller this season and that the effects were only now being seen - making the decision at the toss a vital one with home knowledge in hand.

Hythe’s opening partnership was finally ended on 51 when Porter was bowled but it would be downhill from there as wickets tumbled. Luke Mills and Gary Howe would fall cheaply while Pete Stevens was dismissed for a duck. When Bowman finally fell for the top score of 25 Hythe had fallen to 70-5. This was soon 72-7 as Zac Millar and Ian Prentice also both fell. In fact until the surprise package of Andrew Woods at number 10 who scored 8* Hythe had no reply to the bowling of C Gajic 7.5-0-11-6 and the very marked pitch.

Eventually when Chiverton was bowled the Green caps finished on 88 all out and a heavy defeat, but with all the players missing and the side already safe the result had little consequence.

Toss Won by : Verwood

Innings of : VERWOOD 163 For 7 (42 Overs)

(M.Durrans 78*, S.McLeonards 15, J.Millward 15)

Hythe Bowling

Catches - Steve Chiverton 1, Tom Porter 1, Russell Moore 1

Innings of : HYTHE 2nd XI 88 All Out (36.5 Overs)

Verwood Bowling : C.Cajic 6-11, S.McLeonards 2-9