LASHINGS WORLD XI NAME GIBBS IN SQUAD FOR VENTNOR
South African opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs is included in the Lashings World XI squad which will take on Ventnor on Sunday 10 August at 2.30pm.
Gibbs, a brilliant attacking player, is part of the South African one day squad and is likely to face England after the Test series ends later in August.
Chris Cairns, the record breaking New Zealander, is also included, along with Sri Lanka’s Marvan Atapattu, former West Indies batsman Richie Richardson, India’s Dinesh Mongia and Nilesh Kulkarni, Rashid Latif from Pakistan and the Zimbabwean Henry Olonga.
Spectator tickets are now on sale at the Clubhouse and at Hose Rhodes & Dickson in Ventnor. For availability of Corporate Hospitality tickets, please contact Graeme Burnett on 07764 405023.
ENGLAND CALL UP FOR VENTNOR’S BRIGGS
Danny Briggs, Ventnor’s 17 year old left arm spinner, was included in a 14 strong England Under 17 squad to take on New Zealand Under 19’s this week. England were due play the Kiwis in a one day limited overs match and a two day game.
The young Hampshire Academy player caught the Selectors eye last week after taking 8 wickets in an England Under 17 regional tournament.
VENTNOR BACK IN SECOND PLACE AFTER VICTORY
Ventnor kept alive their slim hopes of a fifth successive Southern Electric Premier League Division 2 title after defeating Old Tauntonians & Romsey by 70 runs at Steephill on Saturday. The victory was enough to move the Islanders back into second place, above OT’s and Lymington, who lost at Hook & Newnham. However, Rowledge’s win at Havant establishes them as firm favourites for the Championship with six games remaining.
Batting first, Ventnor lost Tom Friend cheaply, but a fine innings of 67 from promising teenager Ben Woodhouse, supported by Ian Hilsum (31) and Neil Westhorpe (24) helped the score to 148-4. Three quick wickets then changed the complexion of the innings before Andy Whyte and Mark Holmes took centre stage. The pair each hit 27 in a crucial partnership of 49, including a remarkable 27 off the penultimate over as 172-7 after 46 overs became 221-8 from the completed 50.
The visitors made a decent start in pursuit of their target before Nono Pongolo took a stunning catch a backward point to dismiss DeStefano for 19. The game then turned on an excellent spell of leg spin from Ian Hilsum. The Ventnor all-rounder took 4-18 from seven economical overs to effectively win the match for his side as OT’s crashed from 78-1 to 96-6. Tom Friend’s return to the attack ensured the visitors had no opportunity to repair the damage, the teenager finishing with 4-32 as the innings subsided to 151 all out.
Ventnor travel to Hook and Newnham on Saturday.
VENTNOR CLINCH CUP FINAL PLACE
Ventnor defeated Northwood by 45 runs at Park Road, Cowes on Sunday to book a place in the final of the Island Webservices Senior Cup.
Andy Ball took two early wickets as Ventnor struggled, but Nono Pongolo’s splendid knock of 74 held the innings together before Steve Allwood trapped the South African lbw at 135-5. Northwood would have fancied their chances of dismissing the visitors for around 175, but Mark Holmes and Rob Snell had other ideas! The pair smashed an astonishing 80 runs off the final six overs with Holmes thumping 45 and Snell 33 to lead Ventnor to an unlikely 224-8 from their 40 overs, Gary Paddock taking 3-36 for the home team.
Northwood’s reply was led by Matt Heelan and former Ventnor man Chris Williams. The pair rattled along at more than four runs an over before the former fell lbw to David Beven for an excellent 42. Williams went on to make 33 before becoming the first victim of pace man Pongolo. The Ventnor youngster went on to take 4-14 in an inspired spell and although Paddock (38) and Ball (17no) did their bit, there was no way back for the Cowes side as the innings closed on 179-9.
Ventnor will face Ryde in the final at Harding Shute on Sunday 17 August.
HATT WINS IT FOR VENTNOR
Ventnor II travelled to bottom of the table Cowplain on Saturday and were indebted to George Hatt for their five wicket victory in Hampshire League Division 1 South.
The home side struggled to 133-7 from their 42 overs (Ashly Brett 3-22) but Ventnor suffered an indifferent start in response, slipping to 54-3 before young Hatt took charge. The left hander cracked a fine, unbeaten 73 as he and Adam Wilson (19) won the match for their side.
Compton & Chandler’s Ford are the visitors to Steephill on Saturday.
FRIEND HITS RECORD BREAKING 172!
Reuben Friend is normally content to remain in the shadow of his younger brother Tom, but that was certainly not the case on Saturday!
In the Harwood’s League Division 2 fixture at Ryde Cavaliers II, the tall all-rounder smashed a brilliant, unbeaten 172, the highest score by a Ventnor player in a competitive match since Andy Whyte hit 198 in a Hampshire League fixture back in the 1990’s. With young Ben Clarke impressing with a fine 77, a personal best Ventnor score, the visitors amassed a huge 331-1 from their allotted overs.
To complete a day of personal triumph, Friend went on to take 4-30 as Cavaliers were dismissed for 103, James Cheek chipping in with 4-22.
