It’s that time of year again and each week, we’ll be brining you news from the Ventnor Cricket Club courtesy of Graeme Burnett. Ed
Ventnor progressed to the second round of the IW Senior Cup in unsatisfactory fashion on Saturday after opponents GKN were unable to raise a side.
A hastily re-scheduled fixture saw Indian Gymkhana visit Steephill for a Twenty 20 match. Neil Westhorpe (40) and Ian Hilsum (43) top scored in the home team’s total of 164-1 with the visitors restricted to 76-7 in reply.
Ventnor’s Southern Electric Premier League campaign gets under way on Saturday with a home fixture against Purbrook.
The Islanders will be bidding for a fifth successive division 2 title success but will probably be without four members of last year’s side. John Birchall has returned to his native North West while Alex Lloyd has opted to ply his trade in the Nottinghamshire League.
South African Ryan Shutte will also be absent while Tom Friend is the latest Ventnor youngster to earn a contract with the Hampshire Academy. The teenage pace bowler is likely to feature in the Academy side in division 1.
Mark Fletcher, Robert Snell and Andy Whyte return after missing most of last season through injury while the Club welcome Zanzima Pongolo as their overseas player. The 19 year old pace bowler and middle order batsman hails from the South African township of Langa in the Cape, and was recommended by Paul Phillipson, Coach to the Western Province Cricket Association.
Saturday’s fixture starts at 1pm and is sponsored by R H Plumridge – Self Storage & Transport.
The second team start their Hampshire League season on Saturday 10 May.
Other games
Sunday 4th: Ventnor v Portsmouth H 1pm
Mon 5th: Ventnor II v Ryde Cavaliers H 2pm
Mon 5th: Newport v Ventnor A 6pm
(Portman Building Society Under 15 Cup 1st round)
