Thanks to Graeme for this latest report from the Ventnor Cricket Club. Ed
Morning rain meant the final match in the time format was reduced to a 47 overs a side contest with Havant inviting the Islanders to bat first on winning the toss.
The home team suffered an early setback with the dismissal of Tom Friend, the Premier Division Cricketer of the month, courtesy of a fine slip catch by Robert Gibson with only 13 runs on the board. Michael Bates, on his home debut, joined Jake George but when the Hampshire wicket keeper departed for 15, the visitors spin attack took charge. Although George went on to hit a patient 53 and Neil Westhorpe 34, the innings subsided disappointingly, the last four wickets falling for the addition of only one run with more than two overs remaining. Chris Morgan (5-44) and Steve Matthews (4-44) did the damage to dismiss Mark Holmes’ side for 151.
At 63-1 in reply (Ben Walker 43), the title challengers seemed untroubled but the introduction of Ian Hilsum and Marc-Antony induced a wobble. The spin duo each took two wickets to reduce the mainlanders to 92-5 but despite their efforts, Stuart Ransley’s unbeaten 37 saw his side home with nine overs and four wickets in hand.
Ventnor travel to Alton on Saturday as the season reverts to a 50 overs a side format for the remaining four weeks of the season.
Ventnor move into promotion places
Ventnor’s second team continued their fine run of form in Hampshire League Division 1 with a thumping 211 run win at Rowledge. This sixth successive victory, coupled with Ropley’s defeat at Shrewton, took Ben Woodhouse’s side into second place with four games remaining.
Young Ben Herridge produced another fine performance with the bat, cracking eleven fours and two sixes in a 112 ball 93 and when he departed at 178-4, the scene was set for a late innings assault. Pierre Kriel struck seven fours and two sixes in a knock of 59 while Woodhouse contributed 39 and Alex Horton 33 as 108 runs were added from the final ten overs to post a formidable 304-7.
The home team, bottom of the table and winless, were soon in trouble and lost early wickets to Rob Snell and Horton in the opening overs. They recovered 60-2 before collapsing to 93 all out, paceman Charlie Calloway taking a season’s best 6-34 and David Beven 2-11 as Ventnor romped to their largest Division 1 win.
With two promotion places to the Southern League up for grabs, Ventnor will be looking to maintain their winning run against Bournemouth II at Steephill at 1pm.
Island league lose to St Helens
Chris Parsons with 95 and Hadleigh Carkeet (55) were the principal contributors as St Helens racked up 297-9 in Saturday’s Island League game with Ventnor at Steephill. Arthur Halsey and Mark Price did their best to stem the flow of runs with 3-52 and 3-44 respectively.
Price top scored with 35 in Ventnor’s reply of 107, Rob Love taking 4-23 for the visitors in their 190 run win.
Under 13s defeated at Horsham
Ventnor’s under 13 side lost to Guildford by 58 runs in the first regional round of the ECB Club Championship at Horsham on Tuesday.
Set to score 135, the Ventnor youngsters replied with 78-6.
Keith Newbery
Players paid to tribute to Keith Newbery on Saturday with a minute’s silence before their respective league matches.
Keith, a vice president and a tremendous supporter of Ventnor Cricket Club over a number of years, passed away on Friday.
Keith will be sadly missed by all at the Cricket Club and our thoughts are with his wife and family. Awarded in the MBE for his services to journalism in 2004, Keith spent his entire career in newspapers and was widely respected throughout the profession.
