Fantastic news in from the Ventnor Cricket Club, well done to all involved. Graeme tells us more, in his own words. Ed
Ventnor are back in the top flight of south coast club cricket after a hard fought victory over Portsmouth at St Helens on Saturday.
After the disappointment of last season’s relegation, Ian Hilsum’s side set their stall out for an immediate return to the ECB Southern Electric Premier Division and achieved their target in style, clinching a sixth Division 2 title in eight years with two games remaining.
Tense affair
Saturday’s success at the relegation threatened city club was a tense affair on a tricky surface.
Asked to bat first, Ventnor were in some trouble on 61-5 as the home side took advantage of bowler friendly conditions. The innings was rescued by an ultimately decisive sixth wicket partnership between Mark Fletcher and Adam Wilson as the pair added a crucial 63 runs before Wilson departed for 29. Fletcher went on hit a fine 41 as he and Mark Whyte (12 not out) battled their way to 157-9 from 50 overs.
Ventnor were given a tremendous start by Mark Holmes and Adam Wilson who ripped out Portsmouth’s top three with just 25 runs on the board. The pair then inflicted further damage on the middle order and when Robert Jones fell to a fine catch by David Beven off Wilson for 48, the home team were 101-7. Beven’s leg spin accounted for Hayward and Olliffe before a stunning catch from Adam Hose won the match and clinched the title for the Islanders.
Skipper Hilsum said: ‘It’s great to have won the title with two games to go. The boys deserve it because we’ve played some really good cricket this year.’
Ventnor welcome New Milton to Newclose for their penultimate fixture on Saturday.
Mcconchie Leads Ventnor To Cup Win
Ventnor retained the Island Webservices Senior Cup with a convincing eight wicket win over Ryde at Newclose on Sunday.
Lawrence Tolfrey’s side elected to bat first on winning the toss but were unable to break free from the accurate Ventnor attack as Mark Holmes (2-18) Hugh Calloway (3-32) Cole McConchie (2-32) and David Beven (2-42) restricted them to 148-9 from 40 overs, Toby Jackson top scoring at the end of the innings with 35.
Adam Hose fell cheaply to Ben Dore before New Zealander McConchie, who survived a missed catch at slip in the opening overs, led Ventnor to victory, cracking a fine unbeaten 82, James Cheek and Henry Bartlett contributing 28 and 25 not out respectively.
Tim Marshall of Island Webservices presented the trophy to winning captain Ian Hilsum.
Ventnor Retain Promotion Hopes With Another Win
Ben Woodhouse thumped eleven fours and two sixes in terrific knock of 106 as Ventnor’s second team won their fifth successive match to retain hopes of promotion from Hampshire League 2.
Ventnor’s young wicketkeeper featured in a 166 run partnership with Martin Blackman whose fine innings of 80, together with Billy Clarke’s 38 and Hugh Calloway’s rapid 36, saw the home team rattle up 294-5 from 45 overs against a flagging Sarisbury Athletic II attack.
After losing early wickets to Charlie Calloway and Tom Groves, the visitors were content to accumulate batting points rather than chase down such a daunting total, closing on 184-7 as Ventnor won convincingly by 110 runs. Henry Bartlett took 2-22.
With a couple of games to go, Ventnor are in fifth place, still hoping that two more wins might be enough to clinch the third promotion spot.
Third Team Win At Bembridge
Ventnor’s third team won their fourth league game of the season on Saturday, defeating Bembridge by 8 wickets in division 2.
Marcus Toms took 4-23 and 12 year old Ross Whyte 3-7 as Bembridge were dismissed for 104, a total Michael Compton (35) and 14 year old Jadon Buckeridge passed inside 23 overs.
Buckeridge’s unbeaten 54 was his maiden half century in senior cricket.
