Hyde victorious in nail biting finish against Toft

Hyde - 197 ao Toft - 172 ao Hyde held their nerve to secure a 25 run victory over Toft and maintain their hopes of securing a top three finish.

After losing the toss Hyde were asked to bat first in bowler friendly conditions and got off to an excellent start with openers Tom Partridge (38) and Luke Young (30) putting on 68 for the first wicket, before Young was the first to go.

David Fisher joined the skipper at the crease and continued his recent good form with a well made 32, as Hyde looked to post a challenging total.

Despite losing Partridge and Jason Whittaker (11) the Werneth Low men were well placed when Fisher was the fourth man out with the score on 133.

Recently Hyde’s middle order has been found wanting and once again they lost a flurry of wickets with only Elliot Young (36) offering any real resistance as they were bowled out for 197.

Once again it was down to the bowlers to perform and they soon had the visitors in trouble at 2-2 and then 12-3, with Whittaker taking all three wickets, including that of Robert Sehmi .

Hyde applied the pressure, but Drummond stood firm and led the Toft fightback as they reached 51 before Cole Turner removed Ewan Williams taking a catch off his own bowling.

It seemed only a matter of time before Hyde would wrap up the victory as Toft slumped to 81-6, but Drummond and James Scott (39) batted brilliantly to put the visitors in a strong position, before Scott was out with the score on 131.

Toft still wouldn’t give up the fight and with 32 runs required they were on the verge of a shock win with three wickets still left. A game Hyde should have won comfortably was now in the balance with the dangerous Andrew Jackson giving great support to Drummond.

However there was another twist as
Whittaker (4-48) clean bowled Jackson before Turner claimed the last two wickets, including the vital one of Drummond for an excellent (78), to wrap up the victory.

by Matt Hewitt