HYTHE 1st XI vs BURRIDGE II's

Hampshire County Division 2

Saturday 21st May

TIED GAME & HYTHE REMAIN UNBEATEN

Matt YOUNG 54

The day of Rapture did not live up to much for religious sects, but at Jones’ Lane there was at least a sign of one of the harbingers of the apocalypse: Jonjo Stovell taking a catch as substitute fielder in a first eleven game to tie the match.

In an extraordinary day of cricket at Jones’ Lane, Hythe and Burridge shared the spoils in County Two – a result that took the first team into second place in the division, way beyond their pre-season expectations.

Things started inconspicuously enough for the hosts as, after Rob James holed out for 13, Captain Matt Howe and John Roberts fell in successive deliveries for ducks to leave the Green Caps on 31-3. After some re-building from opener Matt Young and Tom Richards, Hythe found themselves in deeper trouble with Richards’ dismissal for 16 which left the team on 54-4.

Fortunately, the revival began with Young (54) and Harry Smith (35) taking Hythe to 125 for the fifth wicket. Although Simon Wright and Richard Froggett did not manage double figures, Gary Howe 27* took the Green Caps over the 200 mark, assisted by Russell Moore (13) and Rob Saunders 2*.

Chasing 204 to win, Burridge did not start well with Froggett picking up the first wicket courtesy of a bottom edge onto the stumps. Burridge recovered from that though and White (47), Sleeman (25) and Houlton (35) put the visitors in command. But Hythe’s never-say-die attitude paid dividends again as Burridge slipped from 93-1 to 99-5 thanks to Harry Smith’s triple strike as he finished with 10-1-37-3.

Cowte (22) then brought the visitors back into the game before Matt Howe took 3-35 to leave Hythe on the verge of victory with Burridge tottering on 175-9. However, Hythe knew that on week one their last wicket had secured a win following a 23 run partnership and the game was far from over.

In fact, Burridge drew close with Wilde (9) and last man Jeed (who had earlier taken 4-31) on 16*. Then the decisive moment occurred. A cut shot from Jeed spat up off the football pitch and struck Smith a nasty blow to the face.

After come consultation, the Burridge skipper allowed Jonjo Stovell to come on as a substitute fielder. Stovell would be running fine-leg to fine-leg. Burridge always had overs in hand and through sensible batting they drew level despite the best efforts of Wright (5-0-8-0). In the last throw of the dice, Richard Froggett came back to bowl up the hill and with his first delivery, the ball struck Wilde’s hand and spooned towards short fine-leg.

As the field had been drawn up with the scores level, Stovell ran in and took the catch sparking wild scenes of celebration as a tie had been achieved in a bizarre manner in a topsy-turvy game.

Credit goes to both sets of players who never gave up and, in the end, produced a wonderful spectacle of cricket, which resulted in a celebratory sprint from the ginger-haired hero.

Toss Won by : Hythe & Dibden

Innings of : HYTHE 203 For 9 (45 Overs)

Fall of Wkts : 30-1, 31-2, 31-3, 54-4, 125-5, 136-6, 138-7, 170-8,194-9

Burridge Bowling

Innings of : BURRIDGE II 203 All Out (43.1 Overs)

Fall of Wkts : 14-1, 93-2, 95-3, 99-4, 99-5, 144-6, 150-7, 172-8, 175-9.

Hythe Bowling