WESTHORPE’S FINE HUNDRED IN VAIN AS VENTNOR ARE DEFEATED
Ventnor’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end on Saturday when a Greg Lamb-inspired Burridge side inflicted a seven wicket defeat in a high scoring Southern Electric Premier League encounter at Steephill.
Batting first, Mark Fletcher (29) and Matt Compton (19) and Martin Blackman (32) made useful contributions for the home side before Neil Westhorpe took centre stage.
The left hander, with more than 3,000 Southern League runs to his name, held the innings together, cracking some glorious shots in a fine, unbeaten 108 as the Islanders totalled a challenging 247-7 from their 50 overs.
Ventnor made an early breakthrough after tea when Charlie Freeston trapped Burridge skipper Rick Ankers leg before without scoring. However, that initial success brought Iain Brunnschweiler and Greg Lamb together and from that point the former Hampshire pair took complete charge to effectively win the match for the visitors. Both played superbly, Brunnschweiler making 76 and Lamb a splendid 107 before David Beven dismissed them in quick succession. Kenway (27) and Hitchings (23) scored the 47 runs required without further loss to clinch an emphatic win.
Ventnor will hope to return to winning ways when they travel to Rowledge on Saturday.
VENTNOR RUN HAVANT CLOSE
Ventnor bowed out of the National Club Championship on Sunday but not before giving Havant a fright or two on the way. Hampshire’s most successful club side, with a fine record in the NCC in recent years, lost eight wickets chasing 187 and got over the line with one over remaining in a tight finish.
Danny Briggs, back from Hampshire first team duty in the Friends Provident Trophy, hit 10 fours in a terrific knock of 72 but Neil Westhorpe (29) apart, the rest of an under strength batting line up failed to impress as the home side restricted the Islanders to 186-8 from 45 overs.
The Havant reply had reached 106-2 (Mark Allen 2-37) when Ian Hilsum dismissed the former Hampshire batsman Lawrence Prittipaul for 24, courtesy of a sharp stumping by Mark Whyte. Ian Hilsum, Briggs and skipper Charlie Freeston then made further breakthroughs as the current Southern League champions slipped to 151-7. However, a knock of 32 from Gareth Ransley proved crucial and although David Beven took an eighth wicket, Havant edged home in the 44th over.
SECOND TEAM BACK TO WINNING WAYS
Ventnor’s second team put the previous week’s reverse behind them to record a seven wicket win at Bramshaw II on Saturday.
Chasing a total of 141, young James Cheek proved the match winner with a fine knock of 60 as the visitors won with plenty of overs to spare.
THIRD TEAM DEFEATED IN RUN SPREE
In a match where an extraordinary 666 runs were scored, Ventnor’s third team lost by 43 runs to Godshill in the Harwood’s League at Rookley.
Graeme Palmer’s fine knock of 132, Phil Mew’s 80 and Dave Tillbrook’s 57 enabled the home team to reach an enormous 354-3 from their allotted overs.
Ventnor’s reply was led by Mark Price who hit a splendid 107, his second successive ton. Despite his efforts and those of Joe Cotton (40) Andy White (36) and a league best 45 from Marcus Toms, Ventnor’s valiant response ended short of the huge target.
CRICKET SOCIETY DEFEAT SUNDAY SECOND TEAM
The Cricket Society’s annual visit to Steephill brought them a 92 run win on Sunday. Chasing a total of 180, Ventnor could only manage 88 in reply.
Thanks are due to Graham and Christine Benson of Blue Heaven Productions for their sponsorship of the game.
