A magnificent partnership of 201 between Travis Head and Ollie Mills led Ventnor to a terrific eight wicket win over early season pace-setters Bashley in Saturday’s ECB Southern Electric Premier Division clash at Newclose.
Coming together at 0-1 after James Cheek had departed in the first over, the teenage pair batted outstandingly, initially seeing off the new ball threat of Andy Neal and Kevin Nash before upping the scoring rate in the final 20 overs to see their side home in thrilling fashion.
Mills’s splendid 124 ball knock of 84 was another example of his excellent temperament and technique while Head’s marvellous, unbeaten innings of 142 demonstrated just why the Australia under 19 international is rated so highly. The left hander thumped seventeen boundaries to all parts of Newclose in his 143 ball stay, and his late innings acceleration saw Ventnor home with 16 balls to spare, skipper Ian Hilsum keeping him company as their target of 242 was reached.
The visitors had at one point threatened to set the hosts a more formidable challenge but with spin duo Jamie Miller (2-41) and Head (2-48) slowing their progress, they slipped from 90 without loss to 147-5. The run out of the impressive Simon Watkins for 51 with four overs remaining was ultimately significant with the New Forest side closing on 241-7 from their 50 overs.
This latest success, a third victory in four closely contested matches, lifts the Islanders into third place ahead of Saturday’s visit to Bournemouth.
Ventnor hit by O’Neill blast
Ventnor lost by 41 runs in Saturday’s Hampshire League Division 1 encounter at Portchester.
On a tricky, rain affected pitch, Mark Whyte elected to field first and was rewarded when Charlie Calloway made an early breakthrough. David Beven (3-36) and young Jaydon Buckeridge made further inroads, and at 56-5 the home side were struggling. It was Australian Andrew Webb who held up the visitors with a patient knock of 35, and when he was out at 130-8, useful late order runs and generous helping of 40 extras pushed the score to 155, Ross Whyte taking 2-44.
Ventnor lost George Hatt and Ben Woodhouse with only 22 runs on the board and never recovered, crashing to 63-6 with Portchester’s medium pacer Dave O’Neill returning 6-33. Billy Clarke (21) and Ross Whyte (28) did offer some resistance before the innings subsided to 114 all out with more than 20 overs remaining.
Skipper Mark Whyte will be looking for a return to winning ways in Saturday’s home match with Shrewton.
Third team defeated by Newport
Ventnor’s youthful third team were defeated by 121 runs in their Island League Division 1 match against Newport’s first eleven at Steephill on Saturday.
The home team had early success as Newport batted first with Kevin Cooper dismissing both openers, and when teenagers Marcus Horton and Ben Herridge took three mid-innings wickets, Ali Cotton’s spirited side were on top. From 129-6 however, Tom Dye took charge with a hard hit knock of 76 not out, enabling his side to eventually reach 253-9 from their 45 overs.
Newport’s seam attack had the Steephill side struggling in reply and with Matt Webb (3-19) impressing, the hosts were bowled out for 132, Cotton top scoring with 32.
Ventnor travel to Northwood on Saturday for an Island Webservices first round Cup game.
Liphook no show puts Ventnor through
Liphook and Ripsley failed to raise a side for Sunday’s Southern Electric T20 clash at Steephill, giving Ventnor a walkover into round two where they will face Hambledon at Steephill on Sunday 9 June.
Image: Britanglishman under CC BY 2.0
