(Couldn’t get this up last week, but better late than never, eh! Sounded like a brilliant day – well done to everyone on the Ventnor side. Sorry to have missed it. Ed)
TALE OF THE UNEXPECTED AS VENTNOR SHOCK LASHINGS!
A record breaking crowd of nearly 1,300 crammed into Steephill on Sunday, expecting to see a feast of runs as the superstars of Lashings World XI came to town. They left Ventnor’s unique bowl shaped ground having witnessed an extraordinary afternoon’s cricket with the local club inflicting a shock five wicket defeat on Richie Richardson’s side.
Ryan Shutte was the Ventnor hero with a magnificent knock of 65no and three wickets as Mark Whyte’s team achieved a unique feat – the first club EVER to take all ten Lashings wickets in an innings since the club became internationally famous more than ten years ago. The Islanders also created another record by dismissing the World stars for their lowest ever total in that time – just 122!
The day began at 11am as almost 400 Corporate guests assembled in an impressive Marquee which ran the length of the sea end of the ground. They were treated to the wonderful operatic singing voice of Zimbabwean Henry Olonga and comedy duo Scott Charlton and Dave Lee, who then ran the Auction to raise funds for both Lashings and Ventnor.
The action got under way in glorious sunshine just after 2.30 in front of a best ever Steephill Lashings crowd, with Pakistan’s Rashid Latif and Sri Lanka’s Marvan Atapattu opening the innings. They took the score to 21 before Atapattu, who played in the last World Cup, nicked a delivery from Charlie Freeston to Mark Whyte. Greg Blewett became Freeston’s second victim twelve runs later as John Birchall took a comfortable catch to dismiss the former Aussie Test star for 13 and when Latif departed to Ryan Shutte, the star studded visitors had slipped to 43-3. More shocks were to follow as 16 year old Tom Friend claimed the prized scalp of New Zealand’s record breaking all-rounder Chris Cairns, the first of three wickets to amazingly fall on 61 as Shutte accounted for West Indians Tino Best and Vasbert Drakes, the latter the victim of a brilliant, diving leg side catch by wicket keeper Whyte.
Henry Olonga led a partial recovery with 38 but his efforts were largely in vain as Nantie Hayward and Richie Richardson lost their wickets to Tom Friend (what an afternoon for the Freshwater youngster!). West Indian great Alvin Kallicharran became the ninth victim as he lost his leg stump to John Birchall before another 16 year old, Danny Briggs wrapped up the innings by trapping Olonga lbw.
Lashings all out for 122 – extraordinary!!
The Ventnor batsmen knew what to expect after tea – a Lashings side with a point to prove, and a pace attack fired up with Tino Best and Nantie Hayward in full flight!
A packed Steephill was treated to the magnificent sight of Best bowling at 80 plus miles an hour at openers Alex Lloyd and David Beven with Hayward’s similar pace at the sea end soon accounting for Beven. The South African quickie then dismissed Lloyd before Cairns and Drakes took the wickets of Neil Westhorpe, Mark Fletcher and John Birchall to leave the home side in trouble at 67-5. Ryan Shutte, who came in after Beven had departed, then went on to prove what a class player he is. Ventnor’s South African played some fine shots but also did superbly to handle some genuinely quick, short pitched stuff from speedsters Best and Hayward. What he also needed was support from the other end and that arrived in the shape of young Danny Briggs. The Hampshire Academy player, who had never faced anyone remotely as quick as the two Lashings pacemen, showed maturity beyond his years, scoring an unbeaten 35 including five boundaries, to take his side to the brink of a famous victory. Fittingly, it was Shutte who clinched the win, a glorious extra cover drive and a shot over mid on, both off Best, bringing the match to a memorable close.
Shutte deservedly won the man of the match award, a bottle of champagne presented by Richie Richardson who vowed revenge next year in his after match speech!
Scott Charlton of Lashings thanked the public for their support of the match, together with the caterers, match officials, groundsman and Red Funnel for providing travel for the Lashings team.
