VENTNOR II's vs HYTHE 1st XI

Hampshire County Division 2

Saturday 14th May

HYTHE DESTROY ISLANDERS 17 MATCH UNBEATEN RUN

Tom RICHARDS 4-18

Hythe & Dibden First XI recorded a historic victory on the Isle of Wight, defeating the hosts Ventnor 2nds by 46 runs, the host’s first defeat since Aug 2009.

Hythe captain Matt Howe won the toss and chose to bat in the warm coast conditions. However, things started badly as Southern League Premier bowler Mark Holmes (10-5-16-3) removed Rob James first ball caught behind.

Fellow opener Matt Young was then joined by his captain at the crease and the two set about rebuilding the innings. They did so superbly with an 81 run partnership before Young was dismissed just after drinks for 29 (inc. 4x4’s).

Hythe then continued to build with Howe at the crease but wickets began to fall with Mike Edwards, Howe, Richard Froggett and then Tom Richards all falling to leave the score on 142-6 – mostly indebted to Howe’s 65 (inc. 9x4’s).

However, just as a modest total looked on the cards, Harry Smith joined Ewan Bell at the crease and the pair put on a quick-fire 37 with Smith, 17 off 15 balls (inc. 3x4’s), and Bell, 30* off 35 balls (inc. 3x4’s), taking Hythe over 200 with the help of 6* at the end from Gary Howe.

Chasing the Green Cap’s 202-7, Ventnor started well with a 57 run opening partnership between Adam Wilson 39 (inc. 8x4’s) and Billy Clark 33 (inc. 5x4’s) before Rob Saunders dismissed them both in the space of a few overs.

When Saunders struck for a third time to remove Arshad Ashraf for 28 (inc. 5x4’s) Hythe were psychologically back in the game with the hosts on 108-3.

Before Saunders finished his spell he struck a fourth time to leave Ventnor 123-4 and in serious trouble of losing their unbeaten record. Saunders finished with 10-2-38-4.

After that Hythe took control with Mike Edwards and Tom Richards taking up the mantle and cutting through the Ventnor lower order. When Edwards removed James Cheek 35 (inc. 4x4’s) on 151-5 it sparked a dramatic collapse.

None of the bottom seven batsmen in the Ventnor order got into double figures and from 151-4 they slumped to 156 all out with Tom Richards taking 5.2-1-18-4 in an excellent spell of controlled spin bowling while Edwards took 5-1-12-2 in an excellent spell of controlled (at times) anger.

Hythe’s 46 run win saw them record their second successive victory in County 2 while hosts Ventnor registered their first defeat in 18 games.

Toss Won by : Hythe & Dibden

Innings of : HYTHE 202 For 7 (45 Overs)

Fall of Wkts : 0-1, 81-2, 98-3, 127-4, 131-5, 142-6, 179-7,

Ventnor Bowling

Innings of : VENTNOR 156 All Out (39.2 Overs)

Fall of Wkts : 57-1, 76-2, 108-3, 123-4, 151-5, 151-6, 151-7, 152-8, 153-9.

Hythe Bowling