Graeme brings us the weekend’s results from Ventnor Cricket Club, in his own words. Ed
Ventnor are a victory away from an instant return to the Premier Division of the Southern Electric Premier League.
Their emphatic 117 run win against struggling Burridge at Newclose on Saturday extended their lead at the top of Division 2 to 48 points over second placed Hook & Newnham Basics with three games to play.
This latest success, Ventnor’s twelfth from thirteen games, came after the Islanders had made an uncertain start in their home fixture with relegation threatened Burridge.
Reduced to 34-3 after James Cheek, Adam Hose and Cole McConchie were dismissed cheaply, the table toppers were indebted to the experienced pair of Ian Hilsum and Neil Westhorpe whose partnership of 105 pushed their side towards an eventual total of 260-8 from 50 overs. Hilsum’s fine knock of 81 and Westhorpe’s fluent 52 were added to by a late order flurry from David Beven and Mark Holmes (21 not out), assisted by a generous helping of 57 extras as 82 runs were added from the closing 10 overs.
After Charlie Freeston had made an early breakthrough, Burridge’s Nick Ball led a positive response with a half century before McConchie found some turn to dismiss the left hander for 54. From a promising 78-1, the visitors collapsed to 143 all out, Andy Whyte (2-19) and Adam Hose (3-17) doing most of the damage as Ventnor edged a step closer to promotion.
The side travel to Portsmouth on Saturday.
Win At Hursley Keeps Ventnor In The Hunt
Ventnor’s second team won by 52 runs at Hursley Park II on Saturday to maintain their late bid for promotion from Hampshire League Division 2.
The Islanders are now in sixth place after a fourth successive victory but need to win their remaining games against Sarisbury, Bramshaw and Mudeford and hope the sides above them slip up.
The win at Hursley’s impressive Quarters ground was built around excellent contributions from Ben Woodhouse (67) Billy Clarke (39) Martin Blackman (41) and Richard Wilson (50) which took Ventnor to 244-8 from 45 overs, despite the innings being hampered by four run outs.
The experienced Chris Wheeler led the Hursley reply after Arthur Halsey and Tom Groves had taken two early wickets, but when he was dismissed by Hugh Calloway for 58 the home team’s hopes effectively went with him. Henry Bartlett did the middle order damage with 4-39 as the innings closed on 192-8.
Sarisbury Athletic II visit Steephill on Saturday.
Ventnor Face Ryde In Island Webservices Final
Holders Ventnor meet Ryde in Sunday’s Webservices Senior Cup Final at Newclose on Sunday at 1.30pm.
Lashings Name Provisional Squad
Lashings World XI have named their provisional squad for the annual fixture with Ventnor at Newclose on Sunday 21 August at 2.30pm.
Phil De Freitas, Devon Malcolm, Ed Giddins, John Emburey (England) Chris Harris, Ian Butler, James Marshall (New Zealand) Henry Olonga (Zimbabwe) Saqlain Mushtaq, Mohammed Akram, Wasim Jaffer (Pakistan) Jimmy Adams, Courtney Walsh (West Indies).
There are still places available in the Hospitality Marquee, while spectator tickets are on sale at Hose Rhodes Dickson estate agents, priced £10 for adults and £5 for children. For further information, please contact Graeme Burnett on 01983 740131 or [email protected].
