VENTNOR CONVINCINGLY DEFEAT RYDE IN CUP FINAL
Ventnor are the winners of the 2008 Island Webservices Senior Cup after a six wicket win over Ryde in the final at Harding Shute on Sunday.
Charlie Freeston asked Ryde to bat on winning the toss, a decision which paid immediate dividends when the Ventnor skipper trapped Nick Drysdale leg before in the first over.
The Hampshire League side found runs hard to come by on the rain affected pitch and against an accurate attack, Danny Briggs’ eight overs costing just seven runs as Ventnor tightened their grip. Richard Wilson and captain Laurence Tolfrey grafted their way to 15 and 12 respectively but perished to Briggs and Nono Pongolo to leave Ryde struggling on 46-4 from the opening 18 overs.
Teenage all-rounder Jamie Miller impressed with a battling 26 but the youngster lacked support as wickets continued to tumble around him. The pacy Pongolo finished with 3-12 and David Beven 2-3 as the innings subsided to a disappointing 96 all out , Ryde failing to bat through the 40 overs.
Ventnor’s response was positive with Tom Friend cracking a straight six off Ben Dore on his way to a brisk 25. Ian Hilsum punished any loose deliveries in a fluent knock of 43 before he became the third victim of spinner Caleb Whitefield.
The former Ventnor man took 3-27 to hold up the Southern Leaguers before Neil Westhorpe with an unbeaten 16 led his side to a convincing victory with 14 overs remaining.
Tim Marshall, representing competition sponsor Island Webservices, presented the Senior Cup to Ventnor captain Charlie Freeston and the man of the match award to Ian Hilsum.
SOUTHERN LEAGUE BEST FOR HILSUM KEEPS VENTNOR IN TITLE HUNT
Ventnor go to Burridge on Saturday still in with a shout of a fifth successive Southern Electric Premier League Division 2 title after a thumping 105 run win over New Milton at Steephill.
The performance of leg spinner Ian Hilsum was crucial in this latest success.
The all-rounder took 7-26, a personal Southern League best, as the home team dismissed the visitors for 111 inside 33 overs.
Earlier in the day, an inconsistent batting display saw Ventnor eventually total 217 from 47 overs. Young Tom Friend underlined his promise as an opening batsman with a fine knock of 73 but when he departed, wickets tumbled as the Islanders slipped to a worrying 156-8.
Not for the first time, though, Ventnor’s batting depth got them out of trouble as a 60 run partnership between Nono Pongolo (49) and David Beven ( 20) took the score past 200 and secured four batting points.
With Hilsum’s seven wicket haul clinching a 21 point victory, Rowledge’s lead at the top has been reduced to just eleven points with two matches remaining.
If Ventnor can claim another win at Burridge, the season will reach a great climax with the visit of the league leaders to Steephill in a fortnight’s time!
HAMPSHIRE LEAGUE TITLE WITHIN GRASP
Ventnor’s second team are on the brink of a second successive Hampshire League title after a 94 run win at Sarisbury in Regional Division 1 South on Saturday.
Victories in their two remaining games, starting at home to Portchester this weekend, will see the Islanders promoted to County Division Four.
Reuben Friend is doing his best to emulate his younger brother and his fine innings of 78, backed up by 43no from Lloyd Parker and 22 from Jacob George, was the cornerstone of Ventnor’s 187-7 from their 42 overs.
The home side failed to recover from a poor start and were eventually dismissed for 94, Adam Wilson taking 3-12 and Lloyd Parker 3-16.
THIRD TEAM LOSE TO BRADING
Brading came out on top in a dress rehearsal for the Fred Winter Cup Final later this month, defeating Ventnor’s third team by 32 runs in the Harwood’s League division 2.
Dorian Cobb hit 70 for Brading while Mark Price and Andy White both hit half centuries for Ventnor in their reply of 159.
