HYTHE XI vs CRICKLADE (Wiltshire)

Saturday 11th September

Played @ Exbury

Saunders 100% Record Goes As Cricklade Battle For a Draw

More Slips Than Rabbits as Saunders Tries In Vain To Win

Hythe Skipper Rob Saunders 100% winning record as captain went up in smoke at Exbury yesterday as visitors Cricklade from Wiltshire batted out the overs for a creditable draw.

Afterwards they presented the Guru with a club shirt for his man of the match 58 and superb diving overhead catch.

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The tourists put Hythe into bat after overnight and morning rain had left the pitch damp. Once again playing 12 a side - Hythe opened with Mike Bowman and Russell Moore. 32 came off the first 10 overs but in the 12th the tourists got their breakthrough when Bowman was caught off Dewsbury for 17.

Moore then played the main role in a 25 run stand for the 2nd wicket before he was caught off Dewsbury for 17. Hythe 64 for 2 off 21 overs. Zac Millar was bowled by Britton for 5 before Tongs and Matt Young added 46 for the 4th wicket. Young was out for 8 caught off Dunnan and soon after Tongs brought up another half century - Ben Smith was out - bowled by Gilmore for 2. - Hythe 138 for 5. Tongs finally fell for 58 and small cameos from Sam Mead 11, Rob Saunders 8* and Harry Smith 11* took the score to 174 for 7 at tea.

Well done to Cricklade who kept going in the field bowling 39 overs - Dunnan 2-37, Britton 2-22 and Gilmore 2-26 all getting amongst the wickets.

Hythe opened the bowling with skipper Saunders and Jonjo Stovell. 22 was put on the board in the first 5 overs before Stovell had Gillmore well caught by Russell Moore for 4. Saunders then bowled Yowe for 13 and soon afterwards took the wicket of Britton for 1. When Stovell had Hazell bowled for 0 the tourists were 37 for 4. Saunders then had Hunt caught by Bowman for 14 and Josh Mead bowled Young for 4 - 53 for 6 at the twenty over stage.

The tourists were then boosted by the presence of the Cricklade Wags back from a trip into town. Chairman Ken Lawson lead the way - chest out and put up some resistance was the call. 3 more overs passed when McCarthy bowled Murphy for 3 and two overs later only a brilliant diving running catch by the Guru (in fornt of the wags) dismissed the Chairman for 6.- 56 for 8 with 15 overs still to go and with the Smith brothers turning their arms.- who would bet against a Hythe win.

A.Wilson 15* and R.Murphy 10* however showed the way blocking out to earn Cricklade a creditable draw.92 for 8 at the close. A good game played in very good spirit.

In the bar afterwards the Cricklade fines committee was in full flow with a minimum of £5 a time (poor buggers). They presented Hythe with a momento for the game and the Guru won a Cricklade Shirt probably for getting the Chairman out.

John the Exbury Bars Manager was also chuffed with his takings, so a good day all round. Someone even said Bill Werbeniuk ( the ex Canadian snooker champion) was in the building playing snooker .

Innings of : HYTHE 174 For 7 (39 Overs)

Innings of : CRICKLADE 92 For 8 (35 Overs)

Hythe Bowling

 Result : MATCH DRAWN