Some exciting times ahead for Ventnor CC. Ed
TWENTY20 FEVER HITS VENTNOR!
The shortest but arguably most exciting format of the game comes to Ventnor’s Steephill bowl on Sunday afternoon.
Coloured clothing and an orange ball will be the order of the day as Ventnor take on Fareham & Crofton in the second round of the Southern Electric Twenty20 competition. The Islanders, who defeated Sarisbury Athletic in the first round a fortnight ago, will be aiming to progress further against opposition a rung below them in the Premier League.
With Twenty20 currently high profile in all levels of the game, Ventnor will be hoping to attract a decent sized crowd for a competition which reaches it’s climax under the Rose Bowl floodlights in mid August.
The Steephill side will be without skipper Charlie Freeston for the match but will include Hampshire’s Danny Briggs.
The game starts at 1.30pm.
Ventnor hope the match will be followed by friendly Twenty20 fixture with tourists Leatherhead & Cobham.
VENTNOR EDGE HOME AGAINST BASEMENT CLUB
Ventnor secured an important if unconvincing victory over bottom club Old Tauntonians & Romsey in the Southern Electric Premier League Division 2 clash at Steephill on Saturday. The narrow one wicket win
kept the Islanders in third place behind Burridge and Rowledge, who meet on Saturday.
The visitors batted first on winning the toss and looked set for a near 200 total after reaching 88-1 at the half way point, Mark Allen making the only breakthrough for the home team. However, it was the Ventnor spin attack of Ian Hilsum (3-27) and David Beven (4-22) who wrestled the initiative from O T’s as their middle order collapsed, leaving opener Colin Morris (72) without support. Zanzima ‘Nono’ Pongolo (2-29) inflicted further damage as the innings subsided to 155 all out.
Any thoughts Ventnor harboured of a routine victory were scuppered in the opening overs as they crashed to 15-3, paceman Mel Mankayi accounting for Mark Fletcher and Neil Westhorpe. Ian Hilsum cracked five fours in his 35 before becoming another victim of Mankayi and when Pongolo departed cheaply, half the side were back in the pavilion for only 76. Matt Compton, grafted determinedly for 47 but when the left hander edged a catch behind, Ventnor still needed 30 with only two wickets remaining. In a tense finish after David Beven holed out to mid wicket, it was skipper Charlie Freeston who won the match for his side, curbing his attacking instincts to score a vital 27 as last man Allen lent support.
Ventnor travel to Hartley Wintney on Saturday.
SECOND TEAM IN 194 RUN WIN AT HAVANT
Ventnor crushed Havant’s third team by 194 runs in their Hampshire League Division 4 clash on Saturday. The win keeps them at the top of the table ahead of third placed Bashley Rydal’s visit on Saturday.
Adam Hose (48) Darren Taylor (67) and skipper Rob Snell (55) were the principal run getters as Ventnor raced to 266-9 from 45 overs, Olly Turpin contributing 22 earlier in the afternoon.
Havant’s reply had reached 23 without loss before Stuart Barbrook dismissed veteran Geoff Owen and former first teamer Will Prozesky. The home team never recovered from that double set back as 16 year old Arthur Halsey took charge. Ventnor’s promising seam bowler took 4-8 in an excellent six over spell as he and Reuben Friend (2-3) dismissed their opponents for only 72.
THIRD TEAM DEFEATED AT RYDE CAVALIERS
Ventnor’s third team slipped to a disappointing defeat in the Harwood’s Renault League at Ryde Cavaliers II on Saturday.
Chasing Cavaliers’ total of 192-6 (Icke 79), the visitors finished 30 runs short with young Tom Groves top scoring with a Ventnor best 42.
VENTNOR RETAIN TROPHY
Ventnor defeated Putney by 16 runs to retain the Maurice Lickens Memorial Trophy at Steephill on Sunday.
Zanzima ‘Nono’ Pongolo led the way with a fine, unbeaten 103, supported by David Beven with 43 and Daniel Cotterall (25) as the home side reached 208-4 from 40 overs.
Adam Peach with 44 top scored for Putney in their reply of 192, Marcus Toms (3-23) Pongolo (3-26) and Beven (2-39) the most successful bowlers.
