PRE SEASONS FRIENDLY

Sunday 15th April

Hythe Frozen Out in Seasons Opener

Shaun ANDERSON 50*	Jack KNIGHT-OWEN 22
67 Run 7th wkt Partnership

Fitting in a week where Shire Sports were advertising cricket tours to Estonia to play Ice Cricket - Shaun & Ozzie made their Hythe debuts in near freezing temperatures at Bishops Waltham.

Hythe set the home side 205 to win in an hour & 20 overs which they had no problem getting with 3 overs & 9 wickets remaining.

Zac Millar won the toss and elected to bat first. Matt Howe opened with James Page and the game was just 4 overs old when Page was caught off Baldock for 1. Howe and Tongs took the score to 52 in 10 overs before Tongs was caught behind off Brown for 18. Thirteen year old Tom Knight Owen 9 stayed around and added 39 for the 3rd wicket with the First team skipper. Howe brought up the first fifty of the new campaign but fell shortly afterwards bowled by Melon and TKO followed shortly afterwards - Hythe 94 for 4.

With Millar and Mills at the crease Hythe were looking to up the pace but Millar fell for 6 followed by Mills for 12 both by the useful Melon. That brought Shaun Anderson to the crease who kick started is Hythe career with a boundary. With Jack Knight-Owen gaining confidence supporting at the other end the pair added 67 for the 7th wicket before JKO was caught off Baldock for a very good 22. Stovell was caught for 0 looking for late runs which brought Shaikh to the crease. He smashed his first ball for four before Anderson brought up a half century (dropped just once) 19 added before the close Hythe 205 for 8.

With the temperature falling and the outfield drying out BW opened with ex Hythe Ian Tinson and A.Wymbs both looking for some form to take into their league campaigns. Hythe opened the bowling with McCarthy and Shaikh but bowlers found the going tough and anything legside was clipped away with ease off for four. Shaikh did have Wymbs given out caught behind when on 30 but Millar sportingly told him to stay put as the ball clipped the pad strap. Shaikh continued to bowl without luck but with the score now 56 for 0 off just 12 overs it was time for changes. Anderson came on from the botom end with Stovell bowling down the hill.

At 75 Hythe eventually got the breakthrough when Anderson bowled Wymbs for 56 (inc 13x4's) but that was as good as it got for the Green Caps. 90 for 1 at the start of the 20 overs - A chance off Stovell to Jack Knight-Owen was dropped which in normal conditions he wopuld have snapped up. Tinson continued to play with ease and went onto a fine 87 not out. He and P.Baldock 54* put on an unbeaten 130 to give BW the win with 3 overs remaining.

Don't read too much into the result as Hythe would have been more competative on grass and in better conditions. Zac played the game in the right way by dropping Shaun down the order to give others a chance. Little did he know the quality of the BW top three.

A good game played in good spirit in difficult conditions.Ive certainly never umpired in glover before . Well done to Tracey Knight-Owen and Jackie Miller who braved the conditions throughout to watch.

Toss Won by : Hythe in a Time Game

Innings of : HYTHE & DIBDEN 205 For 8 (43 Overs)

Bishops Waltham Bowling

Innings of : BISHOPS WALTHAM 206 For 1 (39 Overs)

Hythe Bowling