Cowdrey 250 beat Hythe 183 by 67 runs
AN OCCURRENCE as rare as England’s footballers winning a penalty shoot-out took place at Swanmead when Cowdrey’s captain Anthony Mills won the toss.
He elected to bat and opened the innings himself with Ash Borella, and the pair raced to 110 off the first 15 overs.
Borella, a centurion last week, was dismissed chipping to midwicket for an express 62 which included 10 fours and a six.
Mills followed soon after for 37 and then the game swung in the visitors’ favour.
A disappointing collapse saw Cowdrey reduced to 175 for 7 with Christopher Slee running amok to grab 4 for 35.
There was a real danger of being dismissed for under 200 but new recruit Thom Brown came in at No 9 and played with freedom and aggression.
He was ably supported by Stuart Clarke, who compiled a resolute 34 to take the total up to 250. Brown remained unbeaten on what looked like a match-winning 40.
Cowdrey were aware that the key to the match was the opening partnership of Hythe import Jarryd Taig and Tim Pichowski, the main reason for Hythe’s wins this season.
By the drinks interval the pair had progressed to 76 for no wicket and the match was hanging in the balance.
But then the breakthrough was secured with Taig dismissed for 36 following the introduction of Rob Fenwick.
At the other end Ralph Yeats-Brown was spinning his web with some effective slow left-arm bowling and conceded just 31 runs in his 10 overs.
At the next drinks break Hythe had moved to 144 for 3 with Pichowski still in victory.
But in a repeat performance Rob Fenwick came back and had him well caught by Ryan Addison for 65 with eight boundaries.
Rob finished with 3 for 24 while his miserly brother Chris Fenwick took 2 for 15. Between them they left Hythe 67 runs short on 183 all out.
The victory maintains Cowdrey’s 22-point gap at the top of the Kent League Division Four.
Now they face a crunch game at third-placed Catford Wanderers on Saturday [July 14].
PICTURE: PITCHING IN: New recruit Thom Brown excelled down the order
