Hampshire South West 3

HYTHE 3rd XI Vs PAULTONS 3rd XI

Saturday 9th July

Catches Win Matches - Drops Don't As Brave Hythe Find Out

Mike GRAHAM 21

Hythe 3rd XI put in a good display in the field before going down by 3 Wkts to Paultons on Saturday. Hythe were bowled out for just 117 but it took the Totton based side 41.4 overs to get the winnings as the Green Caps made them battle all the way. Unfortunately for Hythe half a dozen dropped catches proved too costly.

Hythe lost skipper Jonjo Stovell in the morning following a late call up to the 2nd XI. Tony North available again - captained the side but lost the toss which meant Hythe batted first against a decent bowling attack that had beaten Lymington last month.

Sam Mead opened with Northy and the pair looked comfortable 27 for 0 after just 7 overs. Northy then missed a full toss tio be bowled by Holgate for 13. Mead and Tom Huxley added 33 for the 2nd wicket in 12 overs before Mead was caught behind off Pike for 33 - Hythe 62 for 2 off 19. Just after drinks Josh Mead fell for 2 and Tom Huxley departed soon after for 17 - Hythe 79 for 4. Despite a decent 21 from Mike Graham on his return - Hythe's middle order and tail crumbled to 117 all out in 38 overs. D.Lenton the best of the Paultons quartet - 4-32 off 9 overs.

Hythe needed a good start from the off and turned to Kev McCarthy and Josh Mead. Both found the going tough early doors getting use to the strong breeze and two chances went down early. Magnum was very vocal in the field and Super Kev responded with two qwickets in 2 overs to remove both openers thanks to good catches from Sam Mead and Tom Huxley. - Paultons 27 for 2. Josh Mead then had Johnson LBW for 2 and Hythe were back in the game.

Mike Graham replaced Mead and had Phillips LBW for 8 - 43 for 3. More chances went down as Paultons steadily got the score up./ At drinks they had reached 52 for 4 off 21. M.Newman and R.Pike took the Paukltons score to 71 before the Green Caps bounced back again - Pike bowled by Josh Mead for 15. Newman and G.Minnards took the score to 99 in the 35th over when Newman was caught behind by North for 15. Fair play to Newman for walking when the umpire didn't look to be putting the finger up. Two more chances went a begging but Hythe kept going.

With just 5 runs require Bryers bowled Whithorn for 5 to set up a tense finish. Paultons reached their ratget with a Chiv wide just 8 balls from the allotted 42 overs. - Hythe beaten by 3 wkts but a very good effort and as Mike Graham pointed out - the youngsters just get better and better. Alex Nicholas 4 overs went for just 1-8, Bryers 1-15 and Josh Meads bowling of 10 overs deserved better than 2-37

Toss Won by : Paultons

Innings of : HYTHE & DIBDEN 3rd XI - 117 All Out (38 Overs)

Fall of Wkts - 29-1, 62-2, 69-3, 79-4, 93-5, 99-6, 101-7, 104-8, 109-9,

Paultons Bowling

Innings of : PAULTONS 118 For 7 (40.4 Overs)

Fall of Wkts - 26-1, 27-2, 30-3, 43-4, 71-5, 99-6, 113-7

Hythe Bowling