Hythe & Dibden put paid to Ropley’s unbeaten start to the Hampshire League season – despite having two players taken to hospital during the game!

The promoted Watersiders were on their way to a powerful 298-7 against the undefeated County Division 1 leaders when Sam Redford ruptured his Achilles whilst running a single.

Then, after tea, Aaron Oliver joined his Hythe team-mate in A & E after being hit in the face while fielding. He had a massive lump under his eye.

“Sportingly, Ropley sympathised with our predicament and allowed our veteran coach Syd Shirazi to come ‘off the bench’ and our chairman Ian Prentice to field as a second substitute,” explained Hythe secretary Steve Cheverton.

Hythe scored 298-7 with Kiwi Tarin Mason hitting 99 and skipper Tom Richards 63.

Ropley were dismissed for 220, Alex Sogden scoring 63.

Portsmouth & Southsea and Ventnor II both topped 300 in their respective matches, with Lincolnshire Minor Counties batsman Conrad Louth hitting 187 on debut for P & S.

Louth played a handful of matches for Northants 2nds back in 2009, and has appeared in other 200 Lincolnshire League games since his debut for Boston in 2003.

Shrewton’s Paul Clancy took 7-19 in the seven-wicket rout of Longparish, while Jack Roberts made an unbeaten 104 in Lymington’s win at Burridge.

At least ten HCL batsmen scored centuries in the scorching heat.