Ryde II start campaign with a win

Ryde II started their 2008 league campaign in the Hampshire League Regional Division 2 South East with an emphatic 92 run win over visitors Wickham. Ryde lost the toss and were asked to bat on a great early season pitch and got off to a steady start with openers Andy Gillett and Cameron Mitchell. Ryde lost steady wickets throughout the innings with Gillett top scoring with a steady 50 and fininshed on 154 for 8 from their 42 overs. In reply it looked as though Wickham were going to repeat their victory from last season with a superb opening partnership of 53 of just 9 overs but the run out of the opener M. Raven started, what was to be a catastrophic collapse for the visitors. The introduction of Rob Hobbs, 4 wickets for 5 runs and Dom Hillyard 4 for 11, into the bowling attack brought about Wickham losing their remaining wickets for a meagre 9 runs. Ryde secured 22 points in a well rounded victory and are looking forward to their next game, away at Hambledon III, on the 17th May.