Thanks to Graeme for this latest report. Ed
Mark Holmes’ side had turned in an impressive display to control the post tea session but with a fine victory within their grasp, a flurry of late order wickets turned the match on its head in a dramatic finale.
Batting first, South Wilts initially scored briskly before a double breakthrough from paceman Tom Friend (2-38) checked their progress. They eventually recovered from 135-5 at lunch to total 218-8 (Eddie Abel 51) from 64 overs, off spinner Marc-Antony Eysele’s 4-76 from a marathon 26 over stint the highlight of an effective bowling and fielding display from the home side.
The Ventnor response began with the loss of two early wickets after Ollie Mills and Jake George, both still searching for form, were dismissed cheaply.
However, 16 year old Ben Duggan with a disciplined innings of 39 took the score to 97-3 before a partnership of 67 for the fourth wicket between Tom Friend and Ian Hilsum gave their side the upper hand. Friend’s fine knock of 62 ended at 160 but with Neil Westhorpe (21) edging his side closer and Hilsum completing an impressive half century the Islanders needed 15 runs for victory with four wickets in hand and three overs remaining. Crucially, Hilsum for 56 and Chris Ridley were dismissed in quick succession leaving Toby Corbin, Adam Wilson and Mark Holmes to eke out the required runs. As the final over arrived with Ventnor seeking two more runs for victory or at the very least a well earned winning draw, last man Holmes was trapped leg before by Jake Foley (6-54) to leave the home side devastated and the visitors jubilant.
The side travel to the Ageas Bowl on Saturday to face Hampshire Academy on the Nursery Ground.
Fine win at Portchester
A terrific innings of 97 from Rob Snell underpinned an excellent Ventnor second team win at previously unbeaten Portchester in Hampshire League Division 1 on Saturday.
Replying to the home team’s total of 237-8, the visitors lost early wickets but left hander Snell found support in the run chase from Hugh Calloway (26) and James Cheek (20) before his fine knock came to an end at 184-6. Skipper Ben Woodhouse (18) edged the team nearer their target before David Beven, in his first game of the season, scored a crucial, unbeaten 22 to take Ventnor to a two wicket victory with less than two overs remaining and to fourth place in the table.
Earlier in the day, the Islanders had wrestled back the initiative through their three pronged spin attack after Portchester had reached 113-1 from the opening 20 overs. 16 year old off spinner Jadon Buckeridge was the most impressive, taking 4-32 from nine overs in his first appearance of the campaign while Beven (ten overs for 21 runs) and Ben Herridge (1-29) played key roles.
New Milton II visit Steephill on Saturday at 1pm as Ventnor seek another win to edge nearer the two promotion positions.
Welcome win for Island league team
Ventnor earned a much needed and emphatic 109 run win over Ryde Cavaliers in Division 1 at Steephill on Saturday.
Asked to bat first by the visitors, the home team totalled 185-6 with Mark Price top scoring with 60 and Ali Cotton hitting eight fours and a six in an unbeaten 55.
The returning Arthur Halsey made an immediate impact for Ventnor as Cavaliers replied, taking two early wickets and finishing with 5-18 as the Smallbrook side subsided to 76 all out. 13 year old Dan Cox took 1-9 off seven overs to follow up his knock of 20 earlier in the day.
Ventnor take on Shanklin at Westhill on Saturday.
Northwood defeated in under 15 league
Dan Cox (40 not out) and Morgan Perrin (53 not out) saw Ventnor to 166-3 in their evening league game with Northwood at Steephill.
The visitors could only manage 103 in reply to leave the home team winners by 63 runs.
Ventnor’s youngsters will face Basingstoke at Steephill on Sunday 20 July in the first regional round of the under 15 National Club Championship. The start time has yet to be confirmed.
Image: samhames under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license
