Thanks to Graeme for this report from Ventnor Cricket Club, in his own words, Ed
Ventnor brought their ‘time pennant’ all-day games to a close with a 45 run win over bottom club Bournemouth in Saturday’s ECB Southern Electric Premier Division encounter at Newclose.
In a match of fluctuating fortunes, the Islanders recovered from an uncertain start to reach 90-2, saw a mid innings collapse reduce them to 113-6 before rallying to post a total of 233.
After Jake George and Ollie Mills had fallen cheaply to Aussie pace man Alex Keath, Travis Head responded in typically belligerent fashion, cracking ten fours in a 62 ball knock of 58 in tandem with Marc-Antony Eysele (27) before medium pacer Shambeel Choudhry’s spell of 3-43 had the home team in trouble.
Ventnor were indebted to Chris Ridley and Jamie Miller for their post lunch recovery. In a fine partnership, the pair added 91 for the seventh wicket with Ridley making 61 and Miller 38, ensuring their side had a total to bowl at.
Mark Holmes got his side off to the ideal start, his short pitched delivery dispatched towards the boundary by danger man Keath but straight into the safe hands of Mills at deep mid-wicket.
Holmes went on to take a season’s best 5-59 and at 120-7 it seemed the Bournemouth innings was nearing its end. A spirited eighth wicket partnership of 64 between Wainwright and Anderson took the score to 184-7 and suddenly the visitors were looking for at least a winning draw and perhaps even an unlikely victory with six overs remaining. The return of Rob Snell and Adam Wilson to the attack proved decisive, however, Snell clean bowling Wainwright for 33 before the pair finished off the innings, much to the relief of Ventnor players and spectators alike!
This latest victory means Ventnor retain second place, 25 points behind reigning champions South Wilts. With the League reverting to its 50 over format in the final four weeks of the season, Ian Hilsum’s side will go to Havant in search of an eighth win of the season to keep in touch with the title favourites who visit Newclose in the final match of the campaign.
Corbin hat-trick helps Ventnor to victory
A hard fought win at Hook & Newnham Basics II on Saturday saw Ventnor to their sixth victory of the season in Hampshire League Division One.
The Islanders fielded a strong batting line up and had their middle and lower order to thank for an eventual total of 232. Struggling on 75-5, a splendid partnership of 91 for the sixth wicket between Martin Blackman (68) and Mark Fletcher (34) led a recovery before David Beven (23) and Mark Whyte (29) added vital runs in the closing overs.
Charlie Calloway made an immediate breakthrough after tea but Ventnor had to wait for further success as the home team reached 100-1. Hugh Calloway finally dislodged the second wicket stand before Beven and Toby Corbin took charge. Beven finished with 3-29 from an excellent ten over stint while teenager Corbin achieved that rare feat of a hat-trick in an impressive spell of seam bowling to reduce Hook to 128-7. The hosts were not finished, however, the tail adding 84 runs and threatening to lead their side to a victory until Charlie Calloway returned to dismiss Lovelock for 51. Neil Westhorpe took the final wicket as Ventnor clinched a welcome win by 20 runs.
Gosport Borough are the visitors to Steephill on Saturday.
Third team defeated at Cavaliers
A youthful Ventnor third team were beaten by 138 runs at Ryde Cavaliers in Island League Division 1 on Saturday.
After the home team totalled 209 from their 45 overs, Chris Higgins making 57 and Dave Cox taking 3-22, the Ventnor side were dismissed for only 71, Alex Horton (17) and Dan Cox (16) top scoring.
Ali Cotton’s side take on St Helens on Saturday.
