HOME DRAW FOR VENTNOR IN TWENTY20 SEMI FINALS
Ventnor have been given home draw in the semi finals of the Southern Electric Twenty20 Cup. The tie, to be played at Steephill on Sunday 2 August, pits Charlie Freeston’s side against Premier 1 strugglers Andover with a place under the Rose Bowl floodlights at stake on 19 August. The match starts at 3pm.
Lymington and Portsmouth will contest the other semi final.
VENTNOR TO MEET NORTHWOOD IN WEBSERVICES FINAL
Ventnor moved into the final of the Island Webservices Senior Cup after a seven wicket win over St Helens at Steephill on Sunday.
The village side batted first and after losing Lee Brown to Charlie Freeston, looked set for a challenging total as they reached 77-1 at the half way point. But after Joby Wells (29) and Hadleigh Carkeet (54) were dismissed by Caleb Whitefield and Arthur Halsey respectively, the last six wickets fell for only 32, skipper Freeston finishing with 5-25 and Halsey 3-14.
Chasing a total of 152, Adam Hose and Richard Wilson gave the Cup holders a decent start before teenager Hose departed for 14. With Neil Westhorpe (36) for company, Wilson went on to win the match for his side with an excellent, unbeaten 75 as Ventnor reached their target with five overs remaining.
Ventnor will face Northwood, who defeated Ryde, in the final at Newclose on Sunday 9 August.
RAIN FRUSTRATES LEAGUE SIDES
For the second week running, Ventnor’s three Saturday League sides were frustrated by the weather.
The first team were made to graft for their runs against Havant II in their Southern Electric Premier League division 2 fixture at Steephill.
Mark Fletcher (64) and Ian Hilsum (45) were the main contributors to Ventnor’s 202-8 before the tea time rain prevented any further play.
The Champions travel to Burridge on Saturday for a first versus third clash. Greg Lamb’s side inflicted Ventnor’s only defeat of the season in May but have since lost two on the bounce to slip to third.
In Hampshire League Division 4, the second team’s trip to Redlynch and Hale ended after 18 overs with the Salisbury side on 70-1.
Rob Snell’s second placed side have a key fixture on Saturday when they take on top of the table Hayling Island at Steephill.
The third team were on course for an excellent victory over Whitecroft before the rain intervened at Newclose.
Mew hit 51 for Whitecroft but Charlie Turpin’s spell of 5-13 helped dismiss the village side for 122. Ventnor had reached 26 without loss, chasing a rain reduced target of 86, before the weather had the last word.
BRIGGS MAKES HIS MARK FOR ENGLAND UNDER 19’s
Ventnor’s 18 year old left arm spinner Danny Briggs played in two one day internationals for England Under 19’s against Bangladesh last weekend.
The Hampshire Academy prospect took 1-27 from ten economical overs in an 84 run win on Saturday, and returned 1-39 from a similar spell in the following day’s rain ruined match.
Ventnor will hope to include Briggs in their side when the League and Cup campaign reaches it’s climax next month.
