HYTHE 2ND XI vs SOUTHAMPTON COMMUNITY 2nd XI

Hants Reg South West 2

Saturday 5th June

Smith Shines As Hythe 2nd XI Promising Start To The Season Fades

Harry SMITH 4-43

Hythe and Dibden 2^nd XI fell to defeat against high-flying Southampton Community 2^nd XI despite Harry Smith picking up four wickets in his first league bowl this year. The Green Caps were looking to put their disappointing loss against BAe Systems behind them with a good win over last season’s promoted side Southampton Community, who had themselves started this campaign with a 3-0 record.

Hythe captain Mike Bowman lost the toss and his side were put into the field in the humid June conditions. With regular opener Mike Edwards away, the experienced spin of Ian White would open with Russell Moore. After a shaky start from the tall bowler, Moore picked up Hythe’s first wicket when he had the opening bat caught behind.

Soon after, White also struck when skipper Bowman held a sharp catch at slip, and when Moore picked up a second wicket, the visitors were struggling on 24-3.Moore was then replaced by Lee Powell while White bowled out his ten overs for just 21 runs. Southampton Community then began to push on with their middle order attacking Powell and new bowler Harry Smith. The visitors took the score to 165-4 with Agha 58 and Khan 48 putting on an aggressive partnership that had Hythe looking at a target well over 200.

Fortunately for Hythe, Smith and then Wayne Effeny cut into the middle order and tail with five wickets falling for seven runs to take the score to 172-9. However, the last pair would frustrate Hythe and add an extra 28 runs which would prove the difference between the sides at the end. Smith was the pick of the Hythe bowlers with figures of 10-1-43-4 deceiving all the lower order batsmen.

The Green Caps, chasing 200 started promisingly with Sean Tongs collecting two boundaries in one over. However, he was bowled soon after which meant that Wayne Effeny came in to join Matt Young at the crease. The pair batted fluently and Hythe looked to be back on track when, just at the wrong time, Effeny was trapped LBW. Mike Bowman came to the crease and accelerated away with three quick boundaries but once again fell just as Hythe were looking to capitalise.

Hythe then suffered a typical slow collapse. Firstly, Luke Mills departed cheaply before Young was finally caught on the boundary for the top score of 28. When Ewan Bell fell soon after things were looking bad for the hosts.

Hope was thrust back Hythe’s way when Gary Howe, with the aid of a runner, joined Harry Smith at the crease and the pair put on some quick runs, Howe in particular, finding the boundary with ease. But, again wickets fell just as the Green Caps tried to get on top of the game. Firstly, Smith was run out after a mix-up with runner Matt Young before Howe was excellently caught and bowled for 21.

With time running out and the run rate increasing Lee Powell was also dismissed cheaply when he chopped onto his stumps. In the end, Hythe only managed to scamper to 178-9 with Russell Moore 18* ably supported by Ian White as the Green Caps lost by 22 runs.

Toss Won by : Soton Community

Innings of : Southampton Community 200 For 9 (42 Overs)

Hythe Bowling

Innings of : HYTHE 178 For 9 (42 Overs)

Soton Community Bowling

RESULT: SOTON COMMUNITY (23pts) Beat HYTHE (10pts) by 22 Runs