TWENTY20 TRIUMPH FOR VENTNOR
Ventnor are through to the semi finals of the Southern Electric Twenty20 Cup after a terrific victory over the 2008 winners and competition favourites Bournemouth on Sunday.
Charlie Freeston’s side won a pulsating, nerve wracking affair by just three runs in the Steephill sunshine as the highly rated Dorset side were sent packing.
Bournemouth skipper Nick Park won the toss and invited Ventnor to take first use of a pitch protected from the previous day’s deluge. Openers Mark Fletcher and Neil Westhorpe rattled along at six runs an over before the dismissal of the Fletcher for 13 and Ian Hilsum (run out for 1) slowed their progress. Martin Blackman (13) and ‘Nono’ Pongolo (17) kept the scoreboard moving but it was skipper Freeston who gave the innings the impetus it needed with a 27 ball half century, the all-rounder smashing 3 sixes and 4 fours in fine knock which enabled his side to reach 131-8 from their 20 overs.
With Ventnor’s total probably 20 short of what they were hoping for, early wickets were needed to put pressure on the visitors. Marc Allen duly obliged with his opening over bringing two crucial dismissals. The young pace bowler first knocked back Scott Mills’ off stump and then had Dorset Minor Counties batsman Nick Park caught behind by Mark Whyte to the obvious delight of his team mates! When Simon Wadkins departed to Freeston five runs later, the Cup holders were 12 for 3 after three overs.
Tight spells from Nono Pongolo (1-9) and Ian Hilsum, backed up by sharp fielding, further restricted the visitors and when Rob Snell clean bowled James Park for 27 in the fourteenth over, 52 runs were still required from 36 balls. David Beven’s leg spin saw Mark House depart for 21 before Whyte claimed his third victim as the dangerous Simon Ridley (17) edged Freeston behind. A splendid penultimate over from Beven, which yielded just 6 runs, set the scene for a tense finish with the Premier 1 side requiring 11 to win from Pongolo’s final over with three wickets in hand.
A fine boundary catch by Westhorpe off the first ball swung the game Ventnor’s way, and with Pongolo’s accuracy limiting the visitors to just three singles from the next four deliveries, the Islanders clinched a memorable victory with a last ball boundary purely academic.
The Club wish to thank Sid Owen for his sponsorship of the game. Charlie Freeston won the man of the match award.
The draw for the semi finals on 2 August will be made ‘live’ during BBC Radio Solent’s coverage of the Sussex v Hampshire Pro 40 league match this Sunday. Andover and Portsmouth are also in the hat, together with Bashley and Lymington who play their rain delayed quarter final tie on Sunday. The winners of the semis will contest the Final under the Rose Bowl floodlights on Wednesday 19 August.
LEAGUE MATCH FALLS VICTIM TO THE WEATHER
Ventnor’s Southern Electric Premier League match at Hook & Newnham eventually fell victim to the weather on Saturday.
The home team recovered from 45-4 (Nono Pongolo 2-16, David Beven 2-44, Neil Westhorpe 2-16) to reach 187-8 from 50 overs with skipper Ross Hunter hitting 78. With rain forcing the players off during the Hook innings, Ventnor’s target was reduced to 160 from 39 overs but the weather had the last word with the visitors on 24-1.
The rain also meant no play was possible in the second team’s Hampshire League match with Hursley Park III and the third eleven’s Harwood’s game against Godshill at Newclose.
Havant are the visitors to Steephill for a Southern League match on Saturday, while Rob Snell’s second team have a top of the table Hampshire League clash at Redlynch and Hale.
The Island Webservices’ Senior Cup semi finals take place on Sunday with Ventnor at home to St Helens while Ryde face Northwood at Harding Shute.
Both matches start at 2pm.
