HAMPSHIRE COUNTY DIVISION 3

Saturday 13th May

Top Start For 1st XI

Matt YOUNG 87

Hythe First XI got their season off to a fantastic start with a convincing 91 run win over Steep on Saturday. Matt Young led the way with a faultless 87 as Hythe posted 220 on Pete Stevens first main wicket of the season. Hythe looked sharp in the field and bowled well - the only slight downfall was they only got 8 Steep wickets in a total of 120.

In front of a good crowd Matt Howe lost the toss and as expected Hythe were asked to bat on a slow damp wicket. Matt Young opened with Rob James and it was Young who looked like he'd been playing all winter finding the middle of the bat from the first ball.

Smith and Turnbill started well for the vistors and the Hythe batsman had to be careful early doors. The first boundary came from Young in the 4th over and by the 10 overs mark Hythe had moved onto 25-0. The fifty partnership came up in the 15th over and in the 17th Hythe lost their first wicket when James was caught off Curtis for 32. That brought Shaun Anderson to the crease Mercer bamboozled him with one that moved away sharply and then next ball had him caught at slip for 5 - Hythe 79 for 2 off 22. Mercer also removed Howe bowled for 7 but a 57 run partnership between Matt Young & Dave Guymer for the 5th wicket set up Hythe for a decent score. Young brought up his fifty with a boundary before Guymer was very well caught by Smith off Curtis for 27.

Richards made a quick fire 20 inc a six before being stumped. Millar was LBW for 2 but Mills smashed a boundary and a six to finish off the Hythe innings 220 for 7 a good effort.

Moore and Shaikh opened the bowling for Hythe and it was Ozzair Shaikh who made the first impact - getting one to lift sharply and having Knight caught by Anderson for 1. Noble was playing the stubborn anchorman role and by 10 overs Steep had only moved onto 16 for 1. In the 15th over Hythe got a second wicket when Mills brilliantly run out McCubbin for 9. Hugh Stanton & Noble added 44 in 12 overs before Saunders finally removed Noble for 30. - Steep 72 for 3 off 27.

Saunders then bowled Lewis for 2 and two more quick wickets followed as Mills caught Collins off Anderson for 4 and then James caught Lewis off Richards for 0. Steep 119-7 with 3 overs to go. Shaikh did get an 8th wicket but Steep failed to give Hythe anymore and the visitors finished on 129-8

Impressive bowling from Saunders, Richards and Shaikh but a more testing time likely next week against Denplan Mansbridge.

Toss Won by : Steep

Innings of : HYTHE & DIBDEN 220 For 7 (45 Overs)

Fall of Wkts : 63-1, 79-2, 91-3, 148-4, 199-5, 216-6, 218-7

Steep Bowling

Innings of : STEEP 129 For 8 (45 Overs)

Fall of Wkts : 5-1, 28-2, 72-3, 82-4, 92-5, 97-6, 119-7, 123-8

Hythe Bowling