SUNDAY FRIENDLY

Sunday 30th September

Harry SMITH 85*

Inc 6x6's & 3x4's

Hythe travelled to West Sussex for the final fixture of the 2012 season with only 10 men. In the four years of the fixture it was nicely poised at two wins each.

Hythe posted 212 for 8 after being asked to bat first - which was handy as we only had 7 players at the start due to Harry getting lost. Hythe got off to the perfect start in when Alex Nicholas bowled Cragg first ball and in the second over Woodsy bamboozled Westbourne's top batsman for a duck. But with the umpires meeting in the middle with 15 overs to go because of light. Hythe were forced to bowl out the rest of their overs with spin - Westbourne 167 for 9 at the close.

Hythe opened the batting with Sean Tongs & Chalky White on a pitch which was very unpredictable and against local aussie D.Kehagis whose run up almost started at the boundary gate. A Time Game was agreed and Hythe started well with 29 coming off the first 5 overs - helped by K.Patel who dropped the Guru in consecutive overs. But the Gurus luck run out in the 7th over when he was caught off Kehagis for 20. Zac Millar joined White and took the score to 59 before he was caught & bowled trying to hook Kahegais for 14.

Hythe progressed to 122 for 2 at drinks with Harry Smith looking in good touch and catching Chalky up both 37*. Smith reached his fifty first which included 3x6's & 3x4's. Then Chalky White reached his third fifty of the summer with aboundary. 20 without a fifty now three in as many months. The pair added 86 before White was bowled by Haines for 56. Smith continued with the six hits adding another 3 before retiring not out on 85. Still he awaits his first Hythe ton. With not long left Hythe's tail then wagged despite 17 form Rob Saunders. Smith didn't return and Hythe closed on 212 for 8. Well done to Westbourne who bowled their overs quicker than any team i've ever known. 47 in 2 and a quarter hours and an excellent close range catch by Mark Haines to get rid of Alex Nicholas.

After a good tea Hythe took to the field with Woodsy already out there pacing out his run up. Alex Nicholas first ball bowled Cragg for 0. Woodsy next over then had the challenge of bowling too Westbourne & Petersfield run machine R.Dickin. Fortunate to get him first over last year when Saunders had him caught behind - good old Woodsy did exactly the same - finding a corker of a ball that turned. - Westbourne 0 for 2. Things got worse for the home side when Nicholas bowled Bone for 4 and Woods had Weller caught for 23 by Smith & bowled Kerwood for 0.

Nicholas finished his spell of 6 - 2 for 10 whilst Woodsy's six finished 3-33 which could have been better but for two drops by the Colonal. Kev McCarthy and Martin Duell replaced and S.Malley took an instant likeness to 'Lenny' Duell smashing him for 4 consecutive 4's. The umpires congregated in the middle to discuss the light but Mally was enjoying himself especially when McCarthy too got hit for 3 consecutive fours - but super Kev got his own back with the next ball he had Malley bowled for 42. Westbourne 85 for 6 as we entered into the final 18 overs.

With the gloom Rob Saunders had no choice to turn to slow slow slow to keep the players on the pitch bringing himself on for a touch of the Raymond Illingworth's and The Guru. After an opening maiden Tongs had Giles caught by Smith for 11 but 6 more overs brought no more wickets and the colonal turned to Harry Smith and reluctantly the pestering Woodsy to try and force the win. But Hythe found Kehagias in determined form as he hit his way to 53* which included 6x4's & 3x6's. 2 overs to got Hythe still needed 3 wickets but White bowled Haines for 15 then two balls later pulled off the catch of the season to have Patel ct & bowled for 0. Unfortunately though our gold SPL player at the end couldn't repeat the feat and the game was drawn.

Toss Won by : Westbourne

Innings of : HYTHE & DIBDEN 212 For 8 (47.4 Overs)

Fall of Wkts : 33-1, 59-2, 145-3, 170-4, 196-5, 197-6, 1201-7, 220-8

Westbourne Bowling

Innings of : WESTBOURNE - 167 For 9 (37 Overs)

Fall of Wkts : 0-1, 0-2, 6-3, 8-4, 33-5, 85-6, 138-7, 163-8, 163-9

Hythe Bowling