FUN IN THE SUN FOR VENTNOR BATSMEN!
It’s not often that four players from one club hit centuries on the same day but that’s exactly what happened on Saturday as Ian Hilsum, Neil Westhorpe, Robert Snell and Richard Wilson all reached the milestone during Ventnor’s Southern and Hampshire League matches.
HILSUM AND WESTHORPE IN RECORD STAND
Ventnor’s Ian Hilsum and Neil Westhorpe created a new Southern Electric Premier League divisional record on Saturday as they led their side to an important 32 run win at Rowledge.
Coming together with their team in trouble at 20-2, the experienced pair batted superbly to add 218 as they dominated the Rowledge attack. The double century partnership not only set a new division 2 record for a third wicket stand, beating the previous best of 208 set in 2001, but also eclipsed the existing division 1 record of 216 set four seasons ago.
Both players scored fine centuries with Hilsum’s impressive knock of 123 a personal Southern League best. Westhorpe’s splendid innings of 102 not out was his second successive league ton as Ventnor posted a challenging 258-4 from their 50 overs.
Rowledge, defending an unbeaten start to the season, had reached 78 without loss when leg spinner David Beven struck to dismiss both openers. Still, at 149-3 with 18 overs remaining, the home team seemed well set before Charlie Freeston (1-27) Nono Pongolo (2-42) and Ian Hilsum (3-43) seized control as six wickets fell for 43. A couple of dropped catches in the closing overs denied Ventnor full bowling points but the 32 run victory represented a good day’s work for the Islanders.
Mid table Hursley Park are the visitors to Steephill on Saturday and may include Hampshire’s Billy Taylor if the pace-man is not required for the County Championship game at Durham.
SNELL AND WILSON HIT CENTURIES IN CONVINCING SECOND TEAM WIN
A magnificent innings of 148 not out from skipper Robert Snell was the highlight of Ventnor’s 87 run win over Langley Manor II in Hampshire League Division 4 at Steephill on Saturday.
The left hander hit 3 sixes and 18 boundaries in a fine knock but was not the only centurion as Richard Wilson impressed with an excellent innings of 101. The pair added a massive 239 for the third wicket on a terrific pitch to lead their side to 315-3 from 45 overs.
The visitors recovered well from 58-5 to reach an eventual 228-9, with skipper Kevin Cresswell becoming the third centurion of the game after hitting a fine 111. Adam Wilson took 3-28 for Ventnor.
THIRD TEAM BOW OUT OF FRED WINTER CUP
Ventnor’s third team, winners of the Fred Winter Cup last season, went out at the first round stage this year after a narrow 1 wicket defeat against Carisbrooke Old Boys at Newclose.
David Pratt, back at Ventnor after a four year break, hit 45 and Marcus Toms 31 in the home team’s 169-7 from 40 overs. Arthur Halsey then took 4-28 and Toms 2-10 to restrict the Old Boys before 41 from Ollie Hooper won the match for the visitors.
FIRST TEAM PROGRESS IN ISLAND WEBSERVICES CUP
Holders Ventnor progressed to the semi finals of the Island Webservices Cup after a thumping 201 run win over GKN at Steephill on Sunday.
Nono Pongolo (66) Mark Fletcher (52 from just 23 deliveries) Charlie Freeston (49) Tom Friend (38) Mark Whyte (35) Martin Blackman (22) and David Beven (22no) led their side to a huge 315-6 from 40 overs before dismissing GKN for 113 (Darren Ringer 60). Skipper Charlie Freeston took 5-24 for the home team.
