Thanks to Graeme for the latest from Ventnor Cricket Club. If you want us to feature your club get in touch. Ed
Ventnor bounced back from their opening day defeat at South Wilts to emphatically defeat Alton by eight wickets in Saturday’s Southern Electric Premier Division fixture at Newclose.
After the incessant rain of recent weeks which had left Newclose saturated, skipper Ian Hilsum predictably asked the visitors to bat first on winning the toss.
Julian Balinger’s side made a steady start but were undone by Ventnor’s impressive seam attack which saw them crash from 32-0 to 74-6. Mark Holmes (3-27), Elliot Wilson (2-23) and Adam Wilson (3-10) did the damage and with some sharp ground fielding backing them up, the Alton innings subsided to 115 all out, leg spinner Jamie Miller chipping in with 2-21.
The Ventnor response suffered early setbacks as Chris Ridley (10) Ben Woodhouse (13) departed cheaply. That was as good as it got for Alton, however, as Hilsum, in fine early season form, hit a fluent, unbeaten 36 and young James Cheek 42 not out to give the home team a confidence boosting win.
The side travel to champions Havant on Saturday with Adam Hose returning from MCC Young Cricketers duty at the Lord’s test.
Hatt hits 67 in second team romp
George Hatt got Ventnor’s second team off to an impressive start to the season with a fine innings of 67 in Saturday’s Hampshire League Division 2 win at Old Basing.
Frustrated by the weather which meant the opening two games were cancelled, the visitors produced a decent bowling display to dismiss the home side for 135, Charlie Calloway (2-45), Rob Snell (3-20) the principal wicket takers.
Hatt and teenage opening partner Billy Clarke (49) put the lack of early season games behind them to power their side to an eight wicket win, their 121 run partnership paving the way for a victory inside 27 overs.
Wellow and Plaitford are the visitors to Steephill on Saturday.
Barton hits big hundred against young Ventnor third team
Former Lymington all-rounder Tommy Barton turned out for Ryde Cavaliers on Saturday and thumped 18 fours and 7 sixes against a mainly teenage Ventnor third team in Harwoods League Division 1.
Thanks to Barton’s fine innings and Andy Louden’s impressive 87, the visitors totalled 347-6 from 45 overs, Ventnor veteran Mark Price’s occasional right arm returning 5-61.
Price completed a successful afternoon with a fluent 71 while Tom Doble hit 46 and Ali Cotton 36 as the Steephill side responded with 207 all out.
Ventnor visit St Helens on Saturday.
Ventnor ease through in Twenty20
Ventnor won through to the second round of the Southern Electric Twenty20 knock out Cup with a 32 run win in Sunday’s rain delayed tie at New Milton.
Run scoring was never going to be easy on a damp pitch and Ventnor were grateful to Chris Ridley (35 not out) and Ollie Mills (25) for reaching 126-6 from their 20 overs.
The Division 2 side, who were hopeful of springing a surprise, were undone by match winning spells of 4-11 from seamer Adam Wilson and 4-13 from leg spinner Jamie Miller and eventually slipped to 94 all out.
Ventnor will be hoping for a home draw in the second round.
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