PRE SEASON FRIENDLY

Sunday 22nd April

Memory Lane For Pete Ends In Defeat

Nick SHRIVE 35	Sam MEAD 35

With rain and black clouds all around Hythe finally got a game in yesterday at Pete Stevens old club Steeple Langford. It was easy to see why Pete thinks so highly of the club which he and his son played for back in the eighties.

After an hour and a half delay covers came off and we managed to get a 30 over game in. Several old campaigners turned out to welcome Pete who had a good day - all except the result.

Pete Stevens won the toss and decided to put the home side into bat. Jonjo Stovell got Hythe off to a perfect start with a wicket in the first over. He and McCarthy had the SL batsman in early difficulties as just 12 runs come off the first six overs.

Playing a maximum of 5 overs per bowler - Stovell left himself one for later in the day. McCarthy bowled out giving away just 15 runs from 5. Sam Mead came on for his first bowl of the season with everyone talking about his impressive net bowling (well he did) . With brother Josh allowing himself a little grin as Sam bowled two beamers in his first over. By the 10th over SL had moved onto 40 for 1 with veteran Foyle looking dangerous.

Meads third over saw a wicket when he bowled McNeally for 32. Pete continued to give his old mate Foyle some friendly banter and it worked in the 19th over when he was run out by Super Kev for 20. SL 81 for 3.

Kumar smashed 3x4's and a six off Chalky before next ball Chalky having him caught & bowled for 26. Chiverton was rusty with 5 overs for 29. G.Smith laid into the spinners as SL upped the pace. Smith hit 7x6's & 3x4's in a quick fire 59. He finally fell thanks to a good catch by Tom Knight-Owen for 59. Brother Jack got the final wicket (K.Thompson 13) with another good catch - this time from Nick Shrive. Steeple Langford finishing on 177 for 6 off their 30 overs.

For Hythe Gareth Mead kept well in his first game behind the stumps for a while and praise to to Samm Downing on debut who did very well in the field (won't mention the drop or Nick's either)

After an excellent tea Shrive and Stovell were busting to get out to the middle. Only problem Jonjo must have been busting to come back in as well - as two balls later he went for a suicidle single. Hythe 0-1. We then saw the best stand of the innings as Nick Shrive and Sam Mead put on 58 for the 2nd wicket. Mead after a steady start looked impressive hitting 5x4's in an innings of 35 before being caught off Smith in the 18th over. Hythe at this point 35 runs behing the run rate - next in Samm Downing. After playing half a dozen balls well - Shrive went for a difficult 2 and he was run him out without scoring. Tom Knight -Owen found it tougher than last week and was out for 1 - Hythe 67 for 4. Shrive was next to go for a solid 35 - Hythe 80 for 5 off 24. This then caused a Hythe collapse - JKO caught of McNeally for 2 and then Gareth Mead for 0. With Chiv and super Kev racing to get their pads on a big cheer went up outside as SL's very occasional bowler J.Hills dismissed Hythe's very occasional batsman Chalky White first ball - Hythe 80 for 8.

Determined not to be bowled all out for under 100 skipper Pete's instruction was to see out the overs. Chiverton hit 4x4's and the pair added an unbeaten 31 to see Hythe finish on 111 for 8. Defeat by 66 runs but a good game of cricket against a very nice club.

Thanks to Josh for umpiring and especially to Steeple Langford for getting the game on.

Toss Won by : Hythe

Innings of : STEEPLE LANGFORD 177 For 6 (30 Overs)

Fall of Wkts : 3-1, 60-2, 81-3, 98-4, 143-5, 170-6

Hythe Bowling

Innings of : HYTHE & DIBDEN 111 For 8 (30 Overs)

Fall of Wkts : 0-1, 58-2, 65-3, 67-4, 80-5, 80-6, 80-7, 80-8

Steeple Langford Bowling