Ventnor began the new cricket season with friendly victories over Merrow at Steephill over the weekend.

Pierre Kriel hit eight fours and nine sixes in a fine innings of 106 as Ventnor successfully chased a target of 284 in Saturday’s friendly with Sarisbury Athletic at Steephill.

Ventnor’s second team saw their hopes of promotion to the Southern Electric Premier League end in disappointment on Saturday.

Ventnor won a fluctuating contest at The Linden Oval on Saturday to increase bottom placed Totton & Eling’s relegation woes in the penultimate round of ECB Southern Electric Premier Division matches.

With just two games remaining, Ventnor are on course for a top three finish in the ECB Southern Electric Premier Division for the very first time.

Ventnor are participating in the ECB’s Club Open Day initiative with a six a side tournament at Steephill on Sunday 24 August.

An understrength Ventnor were defeated by five wickets in Saturday’s ECB Premier Division clash with second placed Havant at Newclose.

Ventnor emerged victorious from their double header with Lymington on Saturday.

Ventnor had to settle for a winning draw and 16 points in Saturday’s ECB Southern Electric Premier Division fixture with St Cross Symondians at Newclose.

Jake George, the 20 year old Ventnor batsman, hit the fourth highest individual score in the history of the ECB Southern Electric Premier Division on Saturday, excelling in a majestic innings of 175 in the all day clash with Hampshire Academy on the Ageas Bowl Nursery Ground.

Ventnor fell to an agonising one run defeat against reigning champions South Wilts in Saturday’s all day clash at Newclose in the ECB Southern Electric Premier Division.