LASHINGS WORLD XI – THE GREAT ENTERTAINERS!
A crowd in excess of 1,000 basked in glorious sunshine as the superstars of Lashings World XI provided an afternoon of wonderful entertainment at Steephill on Sunday.
In their sixth successive visit to Ventnor, the side fielded by Lashings was probably the strongest ever, with New Zealander Chris Harris captaining a truly stellar line up.
Gordon Greenidge and brilliant Australian all-rounder Ian Harvey opened the innings with one square from the bat of Greenidge a reminder of the West Indies legend in his pomp. However, it was Harvey who dominated in a partnership of 154, hitting a succession of glorious shots before his superb innings of 103 was ended by Rob Snell. Former West Indies captain Richie Richardson departed soon after with Greenidge the third man out for 51.
Another Aussie, Stuart Law, ensured the entertainment was maintained with a fine knock of 68 while skipper Harris hit 34 not out and former Australian quickie Jason Gillespie 23 as Lashings rattled up 290-6 from their 35 overs. Danny Briggs bowled outstandingly for Ventnor, taking 2-21 from seven overs, while Ian Hilsum also impressed with 3-30 from his five over stint.
The home side included Gloucestershire’s Steve Snell in their side and the former Ventnor player had scored eight before mistiming a short delivery from Pakistan’s Mohammed Akram to Jimmy Adams, another former West Indies captain, at square leg.
With Akram at one end and Gillespie at other, both bowling at pace, Ventnor struggled for runs and after Mark Fletcher (18) had also fallen to Akram and Richard Wilson to Gillespie, spinners Jimmy Adams and Saqlain Mushtaq reduced Charlie Freeston’s side to 48-5.
The Ventnor recovery was led by Danny Briggs and Nono Pongolo with the pair adding 145 in an entertaining partnership, former England paceman Devon Malcolm on the receiving end of several big sixes! England Under 19 man Briggs batted superbly before Akram returned to the attack to dismiss the teenager for a boundary strewn 87.
Pongolo went on to hit fine, unbeaten 72 before Akram dismissed Rob Snell, leaving Ventnor’s young South African and Mark Whyte (14no) to bat out the remaining three overs. The hosts finished on 235-8 to bring a memorable day to a close.
Rachael Fidler, on behalf of match sponsor HTP, presented the Men of the Match champagne to Ian Harvey and Danny Briggs.
A THANK YOU FROM VENTNOR CRICKET CLUB
The Club would like to thank the people of Ventnor and the Island in general for their great support over the past week.
The backing we received at the Rose Bowl was much appreciated and outnumbered the Lymington contingent! The fact many didn’t get home until 3am didn’t seem to dampen spirits too much!
We are also grateful for the continued backing of our annual fixture with Lashings. It was marvellous to see so many people in the Marquee and around the ground and your support helps to generate a unique atmosphere that Lashings say is not bettered anywhere.
TITLE RACE GOES TO THE LAST DAY
Ventnor need 16 points from their final match of the season to clinch a sixth successive Southern Electric Premier League Division 2 title. Charlie Freeston’s side take on Hartley Wintney at Steephill on Saturday, holding a six point lead over second placed Rowledge who face a tough task at third in the table Burridge.
Ventnor go into the title deciding weekend on the back of a hard fought 36 run win at Old Tauntonians & Romsey. On a sub-standard pitch, the Islanders were given a solid start of 68 by openers Adam Hose with a fine 55 and Mark Fletcher (26) but after both departed, it was Ian Hilsum (31) Nono Pongolo (13) and Rob Snell (15) who grafted their way to 173-9 from 50 overs.
At 53-1 after Charlie Freeston and Marc Allen (1-16) had bowled tightly, the hosts looked well placed but not for the first time this season, the Ventnor leg spin duo of David Beven and Ian Hilsum turned the match for their side. Hilsum took 1-22 from his ten overs, while Beven claimed 2-36 as OT’s slipped to 86-5. The home team, struggling against relegation, did partially recover to reach 130-6 but then lost their last four wickets for just seven runs as Nono Pongolo with 3-25 rushed out the tail.
A MEMORABLE EVENING UNDER THE ROSE BOWL LIGHTS DESPITE DEFEAT
Ventnor skipper Charlie Freeston was in philosophical mood after his side were defeated by Lymington in Wednesday’s floodlit Southern Electric Twenty20 final at the Rose Bowl.
“I felt they just got away from us towards the end of their innings, and us coming up 17 runs short just showed it really,” he said. ” Simon Cook is a fine bowler and his opening spell was decisive too,” added Freeston.
It was hard to argue with the captain’s assessment. That blast in the closing five overs cost his team a huge 77 runs with former Island pair Rob Lammiman (44) and in particular Tommy Barton (35) chiefly responsible. Then as Ventnor replied, pace bowler Cook, who played Test match cricket for Australia in the late 1990’s, dismissed Adam Hose and Matt Compton to leave Ventnor with an uphill task.
The defeat, though disappointing, should not deflect from a memorable occasion for the Island club who can look back with pride on their achievements in reaching the final. Few club cricketers have the opportunity to play under the superb Rose Bowl floodlights and the experience will act as a great incentive to go one step further next year. The night will also be remembered for the great backing Ventnor received from more than 150 supporters, including a vocal following from Ventnor Rugby Club!
Lymington batted first on winning the toss and were pegged back after a quick start as Ian Hilsum and David Beven applied the brakes. Hilsum took 2-24 from his four overs while Beven was a model of economy, his spell costing just 14 runs as the Premier 1 side found boundaries hard to come by. It was those final five overs which were to prove costly, however, as the New Forest team cut loose to reach a challenging 176-5.
As Ventnor replied, that early damage hindered their progress and when Neil Westhorpe (19) and Martin Blackman also perished, four wickets were down for 50 with twelve overs remaining. Nono Pongolo (18) and Ian Hilsum’s splendid knock of 51 kept Ventnor’s hopes burning, but when Cook returned to have Hilsum caught behind, the match was all but over. Mark Fletcher finished 27 not out as the Islanders closed 17 runs short on 159-7.
Lymington captain Christian Pain received the Southern Electric Twenty20 trophy while Steve Clutterbuck, courtesy of Clutterbuck Edwards, Chartered Architect and Surveyor, presented champagne to the men of the match, Tommy Barton and Ian Hilsum.
SECOND TEAM SO CLOSE TO PROMOTION
Ventnor’s second team need just two points to clinch promotion and six to win the Hampshire League Division 4 South title after a five wicket win over Gosport Borough II at Steephill on Saturday.
After pace bowler Adam Wilson (3-32) made early inroads, the visitors did well to recover from 107-6 to 189-6 from their 45 overs, Tom Larner hitting an unbeaten 63. Andy White took 2-40 for the League leaders.
The home side were given an excellent start by Lee Brown who hit a fine 56 and Rueben Friend, 38, in a century partnership inside 20 overs. When Brown departed, Darren Taylor with 37 helped lead Ventnor to a convincing win with more than ten overs remaining.
Ventnor travel to struggling Trojans II for their final match on Saturday in search of those remaining points.
THIRD TEAM HEAVILY DEFEATED
With first and second team unavailability impacting on the third team, it was no surprise Malc White’s much weakened side were heavily defeated by Godshill at Rookley on Saturday.
In the second of five Harwood’s League play off matches, Godshill posted an enormous 375-7 from their 40 overs with Trevor Mew hitting 122 not out, Bill Maidment 82 and Jon Turner 77, Malc White finishing with 4-59.
Ventnor replied with 173, Josh Franklin top scoring with 67 and Simon Holmes making 33.
Image: Lashings XI from 2008 by Soul Surfing
