Thanks to Graeme for this latest update from Ventnor Cricket Club. In his own words, Ed
Invited to bat first on a Ageas Bowl Nursery Ground pitch which offered encouragement to the Academy’s seamers, Jake George struck seven boundaries in an impressive knock of 44 before being adjudged leg before. With his dismissal at 87-4, a repair job was needed and for the second time in recent weeks, it was Neil Westhorpe who led the way. The left hander’s fine innings of 62 included eleven fours and with Ian Hilsum making 31, the Islanders were eventually able to set a target of 215 for the home team.
The Academy side set off at five and more runs an over and although Travis Head, in his final match for the club, took the wickets of openers Harris and Green, Tom Alsop went on to make light work of the run chase, his excellent unbeaten 76 leading the hosts to an convincing victory.
Ventnor, who have enjoyed a fine campaign, take on South Wilts at Newclose on Saturday as the curtain comes down on the league season. The visitors will come to the Island as champions, having clinched the title for a second successive year after a nine wicket win over Bashley.
Calloway leads Ventnor to convincing win
Hugh Calloway produced an outstanding performance to lead Ventnor’s second team to a comprehensive 132 run win over Locks Heath in Saturday’s Hampshire League Division One clash at Steephill.
The Ventnor all-rounder cracked ten fours and two sixes in a fine innings of 88 and then took a season’s best 5-42 to cap an impressive display. Calloway featured in a 143 run partnership with George Hatt who thumped an unbeaten 61 from only 40 balls as the home team, profiting from an excellent second wicket stand of 110 between Mark Fletcher (65) and Billy Clarke (46), rattled up a formidable 320-5 from 50 overs.
Locks Heath early wickets to Barney Tyler (3-32) and Charlie Calloway (1-30) and although Levy (41) and Williamson (53) improved on a mid-innings score of 103-5, man of the match Calloway ensured the Islanders took a maximum 24 points, his five wicket haul helping to dismiss the visitors for 188.
Mark Whyte’s fifth placed side bring their debut season in Division One to a close with a trip to second placed Ellingham.
Third team lose at Shanklin
Shanklin’s first team proved far too strong for Ventnor’s young side in the Island League Division One on Saturday, running out winners by 218 runs.
Rob Moore with 91 and Mark Ringer (53) helped the Westhill side to a huge 319-9 while Dave Cox’s 4-55 included the notable achievement of a hat-trick.
Matt Lambourne took three wickets as Ventnor could only manage 101 in reply.
Sketch remembered
A match in memory of one of Ventnor Cricket Club’s most popular characters brought family, friends, colleagues and sporting adversaries to Steephill on Sunday.
Mal Sketchley, who sadly died on Christmas Day last year, would doubtless have approved of the competitive nature of the game as son Chris’s side, comprising current and former Ventnor players took on Neil Taylor’s eleven, a line up which included seven players from Bashley Rydal, a club with whom ‘Sketch’ had done battle on numerous occasions over the years!
Chris’s side batted first and after ‘Sketch’s’ grandson Alfie had bowled the first ball, totalled 246-6 from their 40 overs, Steve Snell and Neil Westhorpe top scoring with 51 and 56 respectively. Martin Briggs was the pick of the opposition bowlers with 1-35, demonstrating that age had not dimmed his ability to bowl a consistent line and length!
Taylor’s side lost early wickets to Charlie Freeston (3-25) and Andy Whyte (2-16) and were eventually dismissed for 101, Adam Hose making 25 in the face of a volley of ‘verbals’ from slip to deep mid wicket!!
Chris’s efforts in making the occasion so memorable were appreciated by everyone and included the presentation of commemorative caps to players from both sides and the donation of ten fantastic raffle items such as a signed Wales rugby shirt, tickets for major sporting events and a Surrey shirt signed by Kevin Pietersen, all of which raised more than a thousand pounds for his Dad’s memorial trust.
Image: samhames under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license
