BEVEN EFFORTS NOT ENOUGH AS VENTNOR DRAW
Ventnor’s David Beven produced his most impressive spell of bowling of the season on Saturday but his side were unable to capitalise in a drawn match with Bashley (Rydal) at Newclose.
The young leg spinner bowled unchanged during a marathon 26 stint, taking 6-85 as Ventnor restricted the New Forest visitors to 212-9 in the latest Southern Electric Premier Division all day fixture. The Islanders, for whom Charlie Freeston was unable to bowl, were frustrated by opener Neil Thurgood who hit a fine 93, batting for all but two of the 64 overs before becoming Beven’s sixth victim.
Home team hopes of a decent start to their reply were dashed when Bashley pacemen Matt King and Kevin Nash broke through early on. Ian Hilsum (17) and Neil Westhorpe (22) helped Adam Hose repair the damage but when the 17 year old departed for a fine 63, the visitors looked likely to force a win. That they didn’t was due to the efforts of Sean Nowak whose responsible unbeaten knock of 40 denied Andy Neal’s side victory in a tense finish, Mark Whyte assisting the South African to survive the closing overs on 178-9.
Charlie Freeston’s side face a crucial all day fixture at bottom of the table Alton on Saturday.
VENTNOR GO TOP AFTER WILSON WRECKS UNITED SERVICES
Ventnor’s second team are the leaders of Hampshire League Division 3 after an emphatic eight wicket win over United Services II in Portsmouth on Saturday.
Mark Woodhouse’s decision to invite the home side to bat first paid off as Adam Wilson demolished the top order. The young paceman took 5-30 and achieved the rare feat of clean bowling each of his victims as the Burnaby Road side crashed to 40-6. Leg spinner James Cheek mopped up the lower order to finish with 3-15.
Chasing just 79 to win, young Cheek (25 not out) and Kyle Sharp (14 not out) eased their side to victory inside 17 overs.
The Steephill side will be looking for an eighth consecutive win in Saturday’s home fixture with South Wilts III.
WHEELER AND PRICE LEAD VENTNOR TO A FIRST VICTORY
Ventnor’s third team clinched their first Harwood’s League victory of the season on Saturday, defeating Cowes’ first eleven by three wickets at Steephill.
Scott Wheeler was the bowling hero for Ventnor, returning from University to take 6-27 in a terrific spell to help his side dismiss the visitors for 150.
Jason Heap (3-17) and Kerry Rice (2-46) had Ventnor in trouble at 77-5 but a fine knock of 69 not out from Mark Price proved decisive as he and Marcus Toms (16 not out) led their side to a welcome win with 15 balls to spare.
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