VENTNOR READY FOR LASHINGS WORLD XI
Ventnor are anticipating another large crowd on Sunday when they welcome the internationally famous Lashings World XI to Steephill.
The side is likely to be captained by the former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Harris, one of the biggest hitters in the game while the squad will include West Indies legend Gordon Greenidge, the Australian trio of Stuart Law, Ian Harvey and Jason Gillespie and former England man Phil de Freitas.
The action gets under way at 2.30.
For ticket details, please contact Graeme Burnett on 07764 405023 or 740131.
HAT-TRICK FOR HILSUM AS VENTNOR THUMP NEW MILTON
Ian Hilsum achieved that rare cricketing feat, a hat-trick, as Ventnor hammered New Milton by nine wickets in the Southern Electric Premier League on Saturday. The leg spinner helped bowl out the New Forest visitors for only 105 with wickets in successive deliveries, snaffling a caught and bowled chance to dismiss Wanderwalt before trapping Beck and Neal lbw to finish with 3-4 from five overs.
Ventnor’s seam bowlers inflicted the early damage, Charlie Freeston (2-18) Marc Allen (1-32) and Nono Pongolo (2-24) among the wickets as the innings slipped subsided to 83-6 before Hilsum polished off the tail.
The meagre target posed few problems for the home side, Adam Hose (21) ensuring a brisk start before Mark Fletcher (34 not out) and Matt Compton (43 not out) completed the formalities inside 23 overs.
Ventnor’s twelfth victory in thirteen games keeps them top of Division 2, but with Rowledge winning at Hook & Newnham and Burridge defeating Havant II, destination of the Championship is still in the balance as the season enters it’s penultimate round of matches.
Charlie Freeston’s side visit second from bottom Old Tauntonians and Romsey without honeymooning Neil Westhorpe.
SECOND TEAM EDGE NEARER LEAGUE TITLE
Ventnor moved a step closer to promotion with a six wicket win at Emsworth in Hampshire League Division 4 South on Saturday.
On a pitch where batting was never easy, Adam Wilson produced an excellent opening spell to reduce the home side to 7-3 after eight overs. In tandem with skipper Rob Snell, the pair caused further damage as Emsworth struggled to 129 all out from 38 overs, Wilson finishing with fine figures of 5-11 from 10 overs and Snell 4-34.
Ventnor found the going hard, but with Richard Wilson (15) and Mark Woodhouse (23) making useful contributions to help their side to 67-2, Phil Baldwin (33) and Snell (30 not out) ensured victory with seven overs remaining.
The Islanders take on Gosport Borough II at Steephill on Saturday and travel to Trojans II for their final match a week later.
THIRD TEAM DEFEAT WHITECROFT IN OPENING PLAY-OFF MATCH
Ventnor’s third team caused a surprise by defeating Whitecroft in the opening play-off match in the Harwood’s League. In the first of five games in a group of six teams, Whitecroft totalled 219 from their allotted overs, with Sumner top scoring with 42, Tom Groves taking 3-25 and Malc White 4-31.
Ali Cotton, returning to Ventnor after a ten year absence, hit an excellent 85 and Mark Price a fine 73 as the visitors won by five wickets with one over remaining.
VENTNOR LIFT TWENTY/20 MIDWEEK CUP
Ventnor defeated Ryde Cavaliers and St Helens to lift the inaugural Twenty/20 Midweek Cup at Newclose on Sunday.
In the first match, Danny Briggs (61) and Adam Hose (80) top scored in a massive total of 228-4 with Cavaliers dismissed for 81 in reply.
In the second game, St Helens were all out for 82 (David Beven 3-20) a target Ventnor passed after just 7.3 overs, Danny Briggs hitting 51 not out and Martin Blackman 29.
Peter Tyler, on behalf of the Cricket Board, presented the Trophy to Ventnor captain Nono Pongolo.
UNDER 11’S DEFEAT RYDE IN CUP FINAL
Ventnor’s Under 11 team produced an excellent performance to defeat Ryde to win the Knock Out Cup at Newport Rec on Sunday.
Jayden Buckeridge (31) Ross Whyte (29) and Marcus Horton (11) top scored
for Ventnor who successfully reached their target of 313-2.
Earlier, Fred Boyce hit 19 for Ryde in their total of 247-9, with Buckeridge taking three wickets and Whyte two. The Ventnor boys fielded and bowled well and ran out three Ryde batsmen.
