Thanks to Graeme for this latest news from Ventnor Cricket Club. Ed
Ventnor’s first appearance of the season at Newclose Cricket Ground saw the ECB Southern Electric Premier Division encounter with Totton & Eling on Saturday end in a draw.
The visitors elected to bat first in the all-day fixture and it was Darron Augustus who led the way with an undefeated knock of 129 as the Ventnor bowlers toiled in the afternoon sun after a promising pre-lunch session had put the brake on the scoring. With skipper James Taylor making 75, the mainlanders totalled 283-3 declared from 63 overs, 15 year old off spinner Ben Herridge celebrating his Ventnor Premier Division debut with a tidy return of 1-28 from a seven over stint.
The home side’s response was checked by an accurate Totton & Eling attack and although Ollie Mills (26), Ben Duggan (25) and Jake George (20) made starts, only Tom Friend with seven fours and a six in a 35 ball 51 was able to increase the scoring rate. When he departed, the game was always destined to end in a draw as Neil Westhorpe (29) and Chris Ridley (21) played out time.
Mark Holmes’s team travel to Burridge on Saturday.
Second team defeated at Shrewton
The long trek to Wiltshire to play Shrewton ended in a heavy defeat for Ventnor in Hampshire League Division 1 on Saturday.
Set to score a formidable 301 to win after the home side rattled up an all out total of 300, aided by 58 extras, Ventnor could only manage 131 in reply to lose by 169 runs, their second defeat of the season.
Only Hugh Calloway escaped punishment as the home team’s batsmen made hay, the all-rounder taking 4-34 from nine overs. Calloway also top scored with 48 in his side’s response, newcomer Jason Boulter making 23.
Ben Woodhouse’s team will look to get back to winning ways against Purbrook at Steephill on Saturday at 1pm.
Heavy reverse for Island League team
St Helens overpowered Ventnor’s youthful side by 265 runs in Saturday’s Division 1 game on The Green.
Centuries from Chris Parsons (163 not out) and Marc Allen (100 not out) led the villagers to 339-2 with Ventnor dismissed for 74 after tea, only James Attrill (15) and Dave Cox (26) reaching double figures.
The team travel to Ryde Cavaliers on Saturday in the Island Webservices Cup.
Les and Ruth remembered on President’s Day
A match to perpetuate the memories of Les Fleming and Ruth Woodward took place at Steephill on Sunday. Les, a respected umpire for many seasons and his partner Ruth, a loyal vice president, both died in recent years and the game produced a feast of runs on a hot afternoon.
Pierre Kriel with 94, Marc-Antony Eysele (74) and Andy White (52) won the match for Ventnor by three wickets, overhauling the President’s team target of 274, the main contributors being Toby Corbin with 89 and Neil Westhorpe with 70.
First team travel for T20 action
Ventnor take on Paultons in the New Forest on Sunday in the second round of the Southern Electric T20 Cup.
Image: Britanglishman under CC BY 2.0
