Thanks to Graeme for this latest update from Ventnor Cricket Club. Ed
Ventnor claimed a terrific twelve run win at Bashley in the Southern Electric Premier Division on Saturday to move off the bottom of the table for the first time since the early weeks of the season.
It was an extraordinary victory in a match of fluctuating fortunes with the visitors recovering from the depths of 80-7 (Sean Willis 28) to shock the in-form home team in a dramatic finish.
Mark Holmes played a key role in his side’s success. With the innings in disarray before lunch, the Ventnor skipper struck 28 in an ultimately crucial partnership of 41 for the ninth wicket with Rob Snell, whose well crafted, disciplined knock of 48 included eight boundaries and defied the Bashley spin attack for 129 deliveries. The left-hander received determined support from teenagers Ross Whyte who made 15 and George Willis, whose four not out took up 34 balls and allowed Snell take his side’s score to 174 all out from 54 overs.
After Tom Friend had rocked the hosts with two early wickets, Holmes struck a further below by dismissing Michael Porter and when Snell accounted for Richard Morris, the Islanders had the New Forest side struggling on 21-4.
Injuries to Snell and Friend hindered the Ventnor effort but with Holmes and Henry Bartlett taking on the additional work load, Bashley’s progress was held in check. George Willis struck a decisive blow by clean bowling Andrews for 70 at 125-6 but it was Bartlett who clinched a fine win, trapping former Ventnor man Chris Ridley leg before for 25 to end the innings on 162.
Holmes finished with 3-44 from a marathon 22 over stint while Bartlett returned 3-37 from 14.1 overs.
Burridge are the visitors to Newclose on Saturday (1pm start) as the League returns to the 50 over format for the final four weeks of the season. With just eleven points separating bottom club Sarisbury from seventh placed Alton, Ventnor know a victory over fellow strugglers Burridge could well be decisive.
Defeat for Ventnor at Steephill
The second team were defeated by 78 runs in Saturday’s Hampshire League Division 1 encounter against Old Tauntonians & Romsey at Steephill.
Veteran all-rounder Max Smith was key difference between the teams. He hit a fine 120 in a total of 268-9, then took 3-39 to help his side dismiss Ventnor for 189.
Charlie Calloway (3-60) and Mark Whyte (2-52) were among wickets for the home side while George Niemiec and Cano Hooneberg impressed with 60 and 40 respectively, taking the reply to 142-2 before the last eight wickets fell for only 47 runs.
Ventnor travel to St Cross on Saturday.
Third team come unstuck at Liss
A total of 143 proved insufficient as Ventnor were beaten by five wickets in Saturday’s Hampshire League Division 4 South East fixture at Liss.
Chris Hibberd top scored with 43 for the visitors who welcome Challengers of Gosport to Steephill on Saturday as Ali Cotton’s side look to return to winning ways.
T20 win takes Ventnor to final
Ventnor will take on Waterlooville in the final of the Southern Electric T20 Plate competition after a 62 run win over Totton & Eling at Steephill on Sunday.
After an uncertain start, unbeaten knocks of 55 and 48 from Neil Westhorpe and Ben Woodhouse respectively led Ventnor to 175-4 with Woodhouse’s knock taking just 20 deliveries.
The visitors never recovered from losing early wickets and could only manage 113, Toby Corbin (2-28), Ross Whyte (3-24) and Charlie Calloway (2-22) doing most of the damage.
The final takes place on Sunday 16 August at Totton & Eling’s Linden Oval ground.
Valiant effort but under 19s lose
Ventnor took on New Milton and Bashley with an understrength side on Sunday and despite spirited performances in both matches, were comfortably defeated in their Nat West group games.
The visitors were dismissed for 88 against New Milton to lose by 48 runs, while at Bashley later in the day, Ben Baker with 50 top scored in Ventnor’s total of 165, replying to the home team’s 195.
