Tim Ndowora produced a sensational career-best return of 7-21 – only to finish on the losing Hythe & Dibden side as Hook & Newnham Basics turned a remarkable Southern Premier Division 3 match on its head to win by 48 runs.

Ndowora thought his job was done after ripping out seven of Hook’s top eight batsmen to leave the Jones Lane visitors rocking at 51-8.

But Hook, promoted from the Hampshire League in 2019, had their own ace up the sleeve in the shape of Liam Shore, whose power hitting and left-arm pace bowling caused a massive U-turn in events.

Playing calculated aggressive shots, Shore took on the Hythe change bowlers, with the unfortunate Noah Vaughan seeing his two overs go for 26.

Shore’s straight hitting led to two sixes and five boundaries, his unbeaten 38 coming off 35 balls and his 40-run last wicket partnership with Ollie May propelling Hook to 106 all out.
Bowling at the same end as Ndowra, Shore (3-14) bowled at pace, attacking the stumps and trapping three of Hythe’s top four leg before to have the Watersiders reeling at 9-4.

Only Alex Nicholls (16) reached double figures -though there were 17 wides among the 21 extras Hook conceded – as Hythe & Dibden collapsed to 58 all out, with Harry Warner (3-21) and Josh Balcombe (3-7) sharing the other six wickets.