It’s that season again and Graham Burnett will updating VB readers every Monday (or Tuesday if a bank holiday) on the progress of Ventnor Cricket Club. Ed
Cup Success for Ventnor
Ventnor defeated Aston Rowant by just two runs on Sunday to progress to the second round of the Club Cricket Conference Cup.
In a match of fluctuating fortunes, the Islanders clinched victory in an exciting finish with Matt Compton’s occasional left arm spin proving an unlikely match winner.
Oxfordshire lost last two wickets
The Oxfordshire home side, who recovered from 80-5 to reach 215-6, needed only three runs to win from the final five balls but lost their last two wickets without addition to their score of 224 with Compton returning figures of 3-23.
Earlier the day, Jacob George (42), Martin Blackman (40), Ian Hilsum (32) and Mark Fletcher (36) had top scored in Ventnor’s total of 226.
The draw for the second round on 29 May will be made next week.
Ventnor push hard in Newclose friendly
The previous day, Ventnor pushed the Hampshire Academy all the way before the visitors ran out four wicket winners in a friendly at Newclose.
Batting first, Ventnor’s Cole McConchie (33) and Martin Blackman (34) eased the score along before a fine knock of 41 not out from Henry Bartlett enabled the home side to reach 181-8 from 45 overs.
In response, a century partnership between Robert Gibson (60) and Tim Ravenscroft (65) led the Academy side to 130-1 and although David Beven with 2-49 made in-roads, Jamie Miller’s unbeaten 26 saw the youngsters home.
Friendly finds Ventnor in favour
Ventnor’s second team defeated Ropley by nine wickets in Saturday’s friendly at Steephill. Teenager Tom Groves produced Ventnor best figures of 4-3 as the visitors could only manage 128, a total polished off by Richard Wilson (64 not out,
Billy Clarke (37) and Joe Cotton (26 not out) from just 19 overs.
At Steephill on Sunday, St Helens rattled up 261-6 with Lee Brown hitting a fine hundred and Hadleigh Carkeet 50. Ventnor’s second team replied with 187-5, Michael Compton making 43, Cole McConchie 36 and Alistair Cotton 54 in a drawn match.
Easter win at Steephill
Easter Monday’s fixture saw Ventnor defeat Ryde by five wickets at Steephill.
Lawrence Tolfrey cracked an impressive 112 in the visitors’ total of 217-5, a target the home side overhauled thanks to Cole McConchie with a fluent 84, Mark Woodhouse 45 not out, Martin Blackman 41 not out, and Billy Clarke, 27.
League campaign starts this weekend
Ian Hilsum will be tasked with the job of leading Ventnor back to the ‘top table’ of local club cricket when the 2011 Southern Electric Premier League season gets underway on Saturday.
Relegation from the ECB Premier Division after just one season was a hard pill to swallow for the Islanders, who will be looking for winning start at Hambledon in their opening Division Two fixture as they strive for an instant return.
The side is likely to include several of the all-conquering Hampshire League Division 3 title winning team from last season, with Henry Bartlett and James Cheek set to be given the opportunity to perform at a higher level. New Zealand all rounder Cole McConchie will strengthen the top order batting and provide a much needed off-spin option while the contributions of the more senior players such as new skipper Hilsum, Charlie Freeston, Mark Whyte, Neil Westhorpe and Roger Miller will be crucial to fulfilling promotion ambitions.
Southern League at Newclose, Southern Electric Twenty/20 at Steephill
Newclose will again be the venue for Southern League home games, with Steephill hosting the Southern Electric Twenty/20 Sunday competition.
The second team, preparing for their Hampshire League Division 2 debut on Saturday week when Southampton Community visit Steephill, will again be captained by Mark Woodhouse. The team performed superbly to win every match on their way to the Division 3 title last season, but this time around will be without Ben Woodhouse, Darren Taylor and Kyle Sharp who have opted to play their club cricket closer to their mainland homes.
Newcomers Arshad Ashraf and Mohammed Raza are experienced cricketers who will help plug those gaps while Hugh Calloway’s arrival from Cowes is another timely boost.
Ventnor’s third team, captained by Mark Price, start their Harwood’s Division Two fixtures with a home game with Bembridge this Saturday.
Image: TC7 under CC BY-ND 2.0
