HYTHE & DIBDEN CRICKET CLUB

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New Forest Cup 1st Round

BRAMSHAW vs HYTHE UNDER 15's

2nd June @ Roundhills

BRAMSHAW GAIN REVENGE FOR LAST SEASONS CUP KO

Kieran CHALMERS 18

Unfortunately Hythe & Dibden's U15s could not match a performance to go with some delightful evening sunshine and a picturesque New Forest setting away at Bramshaw. Missing 3 of the first team due to a variety of reasons Hythe gave a debut to under 11s skipper Neal Reid who certainly did not shy away in the field stopping most shots that came his way. With Hythe missing their 1st and 2nd choice wicket keepers they gave a wicket keeping debut to Elliot Carley from the under 13s who did an admirable job especially given that he volunteered on the night!

Hythe skipper Kieran Chalmers won the toss and elected to bowl first. Having put in two very good bowling/fielding performances against the two top teams in the league Hythe had a evening to forget with the ball as they struggled to come to terms with the sloping uneven run-ups of the Bramshaw forest pitch. That coupled with lots of changes led to bit of a disjointed performance in the field that ultimately led to a whopping 36 extras being added to Bramshaws total (20 more than they conceded against Totton and Eling just 3 days earlier!). 

Hythe took their first wicket at the half way stage with Josh Mead getting a clean bowled. There had been little to cheer up to that point and when Chris Griffin and then Kieran Chalmers were both hit for 6s by Bramshaw's Hampshire player things weren't looking so bright. However, not having been hit for a six before (I don't think) Chalmers fired himself up to deliver a great riposte and clean bowled the Hampshire player the very next ball. With the openers seen off, all but for an over, Sam Long bowled late on getting 2 wickets for just 14 runs courtesy of a good catch from Jack Knight-Owen and a really excellent catch from Richard Jones. That said, Josh Mead was probably the pick of the bowlers again going for 21 runs from 4 overs with one wicket to his name. Bramshaw finished the innings on 116 for 4 with 80 off the bat and 36 in extras!  

So to the batting and in went Jack Knight Owen and Josh Mead to face the Hampshire pace bowler. However, they were pleasantly surprised  to see him decide not lead the bowling but to hold himself back (in Richie's view waiting to continue his dual and try and get even with Kieran for bowling him earlier). With @6.5 runs per over required the first over went for 6 with Josh hitting a boundary. Unfortunately, as with previous weeks the openers got a bit too bogged down and at the end of the 6th over Josh was unfortunately bowled having made 7 with the scoreboard on just 22. So in came Kieran Chalmers with the run rate required now up to nearly 8 per over. The next over produced 9 runs with a boundary each for Kieran and Jack, alas one more boundary and that proved to be the end for Jack as he was then caught out in a maiden over having made 12 runs.  

Next up was Chris Griffin for his first innings of the season having been injured in the previous 2 matches. He didn't get much of the strike and watched whilst Kieran helped himself to two more boundaries and two 2s in the same over taking 12 from it and urging the Bramshaws Hampshire bowler to take up the gauntlet to stem the flow. Not quite the bowler Chris would have been hoping for having waited so long and whilst he tried to get the ball away the pace was just a bit too much and when he then connected he was caught out unfortunately (better luck next time Chris). In came Richard (I will pay a defensive shot) Jones who I think did manage to play at least one defensive shot! He then happily hogged most of the strike for 2 overs whilst he helped himself to 3 boundaries in quick succession before being bowled out off the inside edge and then the pad. That had helped the score along and as Chalmers tried to continue the run chase he tried to pull one to the boundary on the first ball of 13th over but got a top edge and was duly caught out comfortably by Bramshaw's Hampshire man, of course, having made 18.  

The two under 13s of Sam Long and Elliot Carley were now at the crease and after a slow over Sam managed a couple of boundaries before being trapped LBW for 11 runs. Nathan Froggett to the crease and he too ran well with Elliot but it was the under 13 who waded in with a couple of boundaries of his own to finish the innings but a winning total was already out of reach by then. Elliot finished on 13 not out and Nathan 3 not out with the Hythe and Dibden total left too far short on 88 for 6.   A disappointing exit in the cup to a team that we beat fairly well last year in the same competition. Difference between the sides was mainly the extras with Bramshaw only giving away 11. Without the extras from both teams Hythe would have been only 3 runs behind so hopefully they can turn that around again for their next match (if they can raise enough players - school trips looming!). That coupled with the need for a quicker start in the early overs and they will still win another couple of games this season I'm sure.  

Innings of : BRAMSHAW 116 For 4 (18 Overs)

Hythe Bowling

Innings of : HYTHE 88 For 6 (18 Overs)

Bramshaw Bowling