VENTNOR SUNK BY LEADERS BOURNEMOUTH
Ventnor’s hopes of a second successive Southern Electric Premier Division victory were dashed on Saturday when visitors Bournemouth inflicted 54 run defeat.
After the previous week’s fine win at Havant, confidence was high as Ventnor took on the highly rated league leaders, with Newclose looking an absolute picture on a gloriously sunny afternoon in front of a decent sized crowd.
The home side were given a tremendous early boost as Sean Nowak, bowling with real pace, dismissed the Park brothers in quick succession and when Mark Holmes’ accounted for Simon Watkins 30 runs later, Bournemouth were struggling on 42-3. Those early losses were forgotten as Mark House (85) and Chris Cooke (60) rebuilt the innings in a fine partnership of 123 before Holmes claimed his second wicket at 165. That breakthrough was the catalyst for an excellent Ventnor comeback as Ian Hilsum (3-35) Danny Briggs (1-37) and Nowak (3-24) dismissed the visitors for 205 with the last seven wickets falling for just 40 runs.
Ventnor’s response suffered a setback after Mark Fletcher was caught at slip for 14 and when Matt Compton was adjudged lbw, the Islanders were in a spot of bother on 38-2. Matt Metcalfe, one of six Dorset Minor County players in the Bournemouth side, was a model of accuracy and with the visitors’ fielding similarly impressive, runs were hard to come by. Danny Briggs with 37 tried to break the stranglehold and while Ian Hilsum (22) and Sean Nowak (25) also made starts, neither were able to play the match turning innings required as Bournemouth clinched victory with five overs remaining, dismissing the host club for 151.
Charlie Freeston’s side face another tough task on Saturday when they take on a St Cross Symondians side which will include Hampshire’s Hamza Riazuddin and former Rose Bowl all-rounder Lawrie Prittipaul.
FREESTON BLASTS VENTNOR TO CLUB CRICKET CONFERENCE CUP WIN
Ventnor moved into the third round of the Club Cricket Conference Cup with a resounding seven wicket win over Valley End in the Surrey countryside on Sunday.
Mark Holmes took two early wickets for the visitors before Chris Peploe with an impressive 96 led a recovery for the home team. The introduction of David Beven turned the innings Ventnor’s way, the young leg spinner taking 5-44 as he and Ian Hilsum (2-20) bowled out the Surrey Championhip side for 209.
Matt Compton (43) and Adam Hose (28) gave their side a fine start but the real fireworks were provided by Charlie Freeston. The Ventnor skipper smashed a terrific 67 from just 45 deliveries with 6 fours and 5 sixes to polish off the target inside 30 overs. Richard Wilson impressed with an unbeaten 43.
WILSON THE HERO AS SECOND TEAM CONTINUE WINNING START
Richard Wilson, with a fine knock of 89, led Ventnor’s second team to an excellent five wicket win over previously unbeaten Rowledge II in their Hampshire League Division 3 clash at Steephill on Saturday.
The young right hander received crucial support from James Cheek (32) and Alistair Cotton (24) before Rob Snell saw his side to victory with an unbeaten 17 with just four balls remaining.
Earlier in the day, former Rowledge first teamer Nick Morant dominated proceedings with a splendid 117 to lead his side to 215-9. Pick of the bowlers for Ventnor were Rob Snell with 4-37 while Adam Wilson (2-56)
Arthur Halsey (1-31) and James Cheek (1-35) provided the back up.
Ventnor take their unbeaten record to Andover on Saturday.
WILLIAMS HAT-TRICK PUTS SKIDS UNDER NEWPORT
18 year old newcomer Joe Williams took 4-16 including a hat-trick as Ventnor’s third team shocked Newport’s first eleven in the Harwoods League Cup at Victoria Rec on Saturday. The visitors bowled Newport out for just 101 with Pete Brown (2-17) and veteran Steve Weir (3-10) lending support.
Joe Cotton completed an excellent half century to lead Ventnor to a seven wicket win.
Ventnor return to league action at Steephill on Saturday with Northwood the visitors.
NOWAK HITS 97 TO KNOCK OUT SHANKLIN
South African all-rounder Sean Nowak smashed a boundary strewn 97 while Ben Woodhouse cracked 67 as Ventnor totalled 255-6 in Sunday’s Island Webservices Senior Cup first round clash against Shanklin at Steephill.
The visitors were never in the hunt after losing early wickets and were eventually dismissed for 169 (Jamie Icke 35). James Cheek took 3-34 for Ventnor.
TWENTY20 RETURNS TO STEEPHILL
The popular Southern Electric Twenty20 Cup returns to Steephill this weekend. Ventnor, who reached the Rose Bowl Final on a memorable evening last year, take on Sarisbury Athletic in Sunday’s first round tie at 3pm.
Image: TC7 under CC BY-ND 2.0
