Promising Display Despite Defeat
Ventnor’s debut in Division 1 of the ECB Southern Electric Premier League began with defeat at Totton & Eling on Saturday.
Despite the five wicket loss, Charlie Freeston’s side produced an encouraging performance against a side likely to be among the favourites for the Championship.
In a rain affected affair at Southern Gardens, it was Totton who won a crucial toss and invited Ventnor to bat first. Openers Mark Fletcher and Matt Compton coped admirably against a potent new ball attack of former Hampshire paceman Billy Taylor and experienced left armer Dan Goldstraw, adding 47 before the heavens opened.
When the rain relented, the pair took the score to 64 before Compton departed for 26. When Fletcher was dismissed for 35, Adam Hose (18) and Ian Hilsum (32) helped the score along before a fine partnership of 76 between Neil Westhorpe and South African newcomer Sean Nowak ensured the visitors posted a challenging total. Both men hit an unbeaten 46 with Nowak smashing three enormous sixes off Goldstraw as the Islanders acclerated to close on 223-4 from 48 overs.
With Totton’s target reduced by the rain to 185 from 34 overs, Charlie Freeston and Andy Whyte made early innings breakthroughs as David Banks and ex Hampshire batsman Derek Kenway departed cheaply.
After Jonathan Norris was well caught and bowled David Beven for 47, it was Owamir Afzal, a Solent University student with first class experience in his native India, who effectively won the match for the home team with a fine knock of 60, taking the score from 103-4 to 179-5 before Chowdhury (34 not out) clinched victory with 17 balls remaining.
Ventnor will look to take the positives from this opening game into Saturday’s match against highly rated South Wilts at Newclose at 1pm.
The Islanders will hope to include Danny Briggs in their line up.
St Helens Defeat Thurd Team in Low Key Order
St Helens’ Marc Allen turned the tables on his former club at Steephill on Saturday, taking 4-26 to help dismiss Ventnor for 101 in Harwoods League Division 1. The home side’s final total (Henry Bartlett 28) actually represented a recovery from 11-5 and then 55-7 as the top order disintegrated.
Allen completed a man of the match performance with 41 as St Helens won by six wickets.
Ventnor Win A Bowl Out!
The miserable weather on Sunday meant no play was possible in Ventnor’s first ever match in the Club Cricket Conference Cup against Surrey Championship side Malden Wanderers at Steephill.
However, with both clubs keen to resolve the tie on the day, the two captains and umpires agreed to a bowl out in the Cricket Academy with each side nominating five players. Ventnor came out on top with Charlie Freeston, Adam Hose, Neil Westhorpe and Matt Compton all hitting the stumps to lead Ventnor to a 5-2 victory.
Bank Holiday win for Ventnor
Martin Blackman hit a century as Ventnor (233) defeated Royal Hospitals (178) by 55 runs at Steephill on Monday.
Second Team Begin Hampshire League Campaign
Ventnor take on East Woodhay at Steephill on Saturday in their opening match in Hampshire League Division 3. The Islanders will be keen to build on last season’s success which saw them win the Division 4 Championship.
The third team travel to Ryde Cavaliers in the Harwoods League while on Sunday, the second eleven take on Kent tourists Jolly Roger at Steephill at 2pm.
Image: TC7 under CC BY-ND 2.0
