VENTNOR’S THIRD TEAM TRIUMPH IN CUP FINAL
Ventnor’s third team are the winners of the Fred Winter Memorial Cup for 2008 after defeating Brading in an entertaining and closely fought final on Sunday.
After rain caused the abandonment of the first match, the teams took the field in bright sunshine as Ventnor skipper Malcolm White invited home team Brading to bat first.
Ian Riley with 24 gave Brading a decent start before Ashley Brett claimed the wickets of Dave Attrill and Riley in quick succession. Ollie Fleming (26) and Dorian Cobb (39) impressed for Brading but with Ventnor’s seam attack generally in charge, the hosts were eventually dismissed for 154, Andy White taking 2-24 and George Parker 2-25.
Ventnor’s reply began steadily before Mark Price was clean bowled by Hull for 15. However, from a promising 33-1, Ventnor slid to 50-5 as Ollie Fleming made in-roads. The former Ventnor man took 3-25 from an excellent eight over spell as Brading sensed another quick breakthrough may prove decisive.
The home team were then held up by a fine sixth wicket partnership of 74 as 14 year old Jacob George, batting with a runner, and Ashley Brett led a Ventnor recovery.
A fluctuating match then swung back in Brading’s favour as young George (33) and Brett (37) both fell to Adam Barsdell, and when George Parker and Marcus Toms fell cheaply, the last over arrived with Brading requiring one wicket and Ventnor two runs for victory. It was left to 15 year old Ben Clarke to hold his nerve, the teenager cracking a boundary from the first delivery to win the match for Ventnor, bringing an excellent and keenly contested final to a conclusion.
VENTNOR RETAIN ROY TILLER MEMORIAL TROPHY
Ventnor defeated old rivals Shanklin by 48 runs at Steephill on Saturday to retain the Roy Tiller Memorial Trophy.
After James Lucy and Dave Warrick had reduced the home team to 51-5, the Shanklin bowlers were put to the sword by David Beven and Rob Snell. In an entertaining, unbeaten partnership of 181, Beven cracked a splendid 93 and Snell an impressive 80 as Ventnor totalled 232-5 from their 40 overs.
Shanklin lost early wickets in their pursuit of the large total, and despite 44 from Dan Bishop, 38 from Andy White and 25 from Rob Hall, were eventually dismissed for 184, Tom Friend taking 2-8, Rob Snell 2-18 and Chris Kershaw 2-6.
Ventnor’s successful season draws to a close this weekend. On Saturday, the President’s XI are the visitors with Chris Sketchley skippering Brian Gardener’s side. The opponents for the final match on Sunday are Old Tauntonians & Romsey. Both games start at 1pm.
