Cup - Hythe Finals Day

New Forest Indoor Cricket

Finals Day

Sunday March 18th 2012

Hythe were pipped by 3 runs in the final of the Cup today despite a massive effort from Kev McCarthy who ran 9 three runs in 10 balls before being run out with 3 balls remaining.

Earlier Hythe scraped through against Milford whilst New Milton comfortably beat Sway.

Huxter again won the toss and elected to field first. Hythe got a great start when in the 2nd over - dangerman N.Elliott was run out by Huxley for 5. The bowling of Mead and Smith was proving difficult for the New Milton batsman and after 4 overs they had only reached 14 for 1. Under the weather Tilbury kept going and smashed McCarthy for six. At the half way stage 38 for 1.

15 came off McCarthy in the 7th but Young's 2nd (8th over) saw just two runs and a wicket - Locke caught by Smith for 20. Eight runs came off the 9th over beofre Young had Anderson judged L.B.W at the start of the 9th and in the same over Ecke was run out by Page for 1.- New Milton 69 for 4 off 10.

Tilbury at the other end kept going - 15 came off the Mead 11th over and 17 came off the final Smith over before he had Tilbury run out by Mead on the last ball.

New Milton 100 for 5 at the close - for Hythe well done to all the bowlers for some pretty impressive stuff - Matt Young 2-14 off 3 stands out.

So 101 to win and Hythe hoped for a better batting performance than the semi. Third ball though Huxley run out Hythe 1-1. Things didn't get better in the second when Smith was caught off Locke for 1 and when next over Page was run out for 5 - Hythe were reeling at 11 for 3 and it looked like it was going to be the shortest final of all time.

7 came off the 4th over at at the end of the 5th Hythe had moved onto 26 for 3 with Young looking relaxed. 6th over with the score on 32 Mead was bowled by Ecke for 1 and Hythe 4 down. 22 came off the next two overs as Young opened up. In the 9th though Young was caught off Ecke for 29 leaving Super Kev on his own with 39 still needed.

By the end of the 10th the score had moved onto 66. With the experience of Locke to bowl the 11th things didn't look good for Hythe but spurred on by the supporters and Young at the other end - Super Kev grew in confidence. Locke's first 3 balls went for 3's followed by a wide and then three more 3's = 21 off the 11th over.

Hythe needed 12 off the last New Milton moved the athletic Elliott into Super Kev's lag glance position where he was getting most of his runs. First three balls went for 3 more 3's. But with 3 more needed - they tried to run again and Elliott fired a direct hit to run out Sper Kev for 29 - New Milton win by 2.

Toss Won By : Hythe

Innings of : NEW MILTON 100 For 5 (12 Overs)

Fall of Wkts : 8-1,53-2, 67-3, 68-4, 110-5

Hythe Bowling

Innings of : HYTHE - 98 All Out (11.4 Overs)

Fall of Wkts : 1-1, 10-2, 11-3, 32-4, 62-5

New Milton Bowling

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Hythe made tough work of their semi-final after bowling Milford out for 74. With 2 overs remaining the Green Caps still required 20 to win but Burns got the yips bowling 3 wides in a 13 run over - Hythe won with 3 balls remaining.

Hythe elected to field first and Harry Smith got them off to a perfect start when he bowled Brown 4th ball for 0. Next over Mead had dangerman Bockhart well caught by Smith for 5 and Milford were rocking at 13 for 2. Smiths second over went for just a single and in the 4th over Mead bowled Ferrar for 3. Soon after Page run out Adkin for a duck and Milford were 27 for 4 off 5.

Burns and Torah picked off the singles and took the score to 44 off 9. Next over Burns was well caught by Josh Mead for 19. Last man Torah blasted Young for a six in a 15 run over. Meads final over went for 14 to take Milford to 73 off 11. Young then got his reveng on Torah by having him cayught 7 bowled with 1 ball remaining for 18 - Milford all out for 74.

Harry Smith Hythe's most economical bowler 1-10 off 3 whilst their were 2 wickets a piece for Mead and Smith.

Hythe should have won in a canter but all credit to Milford who kept going. Page and Young started cautiously taking 8 off the first two overs. In the 3rd over Page was run out for 10 and almost immeadiately Smith followed him back - Caught by Brown off Bockhart for 0. By the half way stage Hythe had crawled to 26 for 2 but in the 7th Mead fell - bowled by Brown for 2. At the end of the 8th over Hythe were just 36 for 3 and the touchline couldn't believe this was the team that beat Paultons batting. Even Pagey was getting changed ready to go home.

By 9 overs Hythe had moved onto 50 still needing 21 off 3 and things got worse when at 56 Matt Young had to retire after hitting a six 30* - one more was added to take Hythe to 57 off 10. Milford looked in control as the first 3 balls of Burns over went for just 1 then as if Woody was helping us from above - the next 3 balls all went for wides and by the end of the over Hythe only required 5 off the last.

3 dot 3 sealed it for Hythe but boy did they make hard work of it for their large contingent of supporters. For Milford Brown 1-9 off 3 and Bockhart 1-16 off 3 bowled superbly.

Toss Won By : Hythe

Innings of : MILFORD 74 All Out (11.5 Overs)

Fall of Wkts : 2-1,13-2, 20-3, 27-4, 52-5

Hythe Bowling

Innings of : HYTHE - 77 for 3 (11.3 Overs)

Fall of Wkts : 16-1, 17-2, 28-3

Milford Bowling