HILSUM’S 94 HELPS VENTNOR TO A DRAW
Ventnor’s first ever ‘time’ game in the Southern Electric Premier Division ended in a draw at Newclose on Saturday.
On a warm morning, Ventnor skipper Charlie Freeston lost the toss to Lymington counterpart Morgan Rushbrook who needed little persuading to bat first on a good looking pitch.
Paceman Sean Nowak struck the first Ventnor blow, dismissing Tommy Barton for 27, but that was the last success the home side enjoyed until the post lunch session when Rushbrook departed for a fine 74.
The visitors were then pegged back by an excellent spell from Mark Holmes, the seamer taking 5-52 before Grierson (62), Khan (37) and McMurray (30) led a recovery from 215-5 to 274-8 from a maximum of 64 overs.
A decent start in pursuit of 275 from 56 overs was crucial but Ventnor’s response was exactly the opposite as Mark Fletcher, Matt Compton and Adam Hose came and went with less than 50 on the board. Neil Westhorpe (22) helped the impressive Ian Hilsum add 78 before Sean Nowak (36) joined his vice-captain in a fifth wicket partnership of 60.
Glyn Treagus’s 21 over stint, which yielded just 60 runs, was ultimately decisive, with Ventnor unable find the boundary often enough to seriously threaten a victory. Not that Lymington ever looked likely to dismiss the home team, however, with Hilsum’s fine innings of 94 earning his side a draw at 206-7.
Ventnor face another all day game assignment on Saturday with a trip to the Rose Bowl to take on Hampshire Academy.
WONDERFUL INNINGS FROM HILSUM IS IN VEIN
A magnificent innings of 126 from Ian Hilsum was not enough to prevent Ventnor bowing out of the ECB National Club Championship at Havant on Sunday.
Described by captain Charlie Freeston as ‘one of the best knocks in club cricket I’ve ever seen’, Hilsum set about the Havant attack in astonishing fashion, smashing a ton inside 16 overs. His 75 ball master class, which included 20 boundaries, at one point set Ventnor up for a famous victory in pursuit of a massive home team target of 320, Steve Dean cracking 111.
However, despite the later innings efforts of Richard Wilson who hit 62, Ventnor were eventually dismissed for 261.
WOODHOUSE AND SHARP WIN IT FOR VENTNOR
Ventnor’s second team made it five wins out of five with a three wicket victory at Hartley Wintney in Hampshire League Division 3 on Saturday.
Arthur Halsey with 4-66 was the most successful of the Ventnor bowlers as the home team totalled 219-6 from their 45 overs. The visitors’ reply saw Richard Wilson and Alistair Cotton dismissed cheaply before splendid knocks of 52 from Ben Woodhouse and 58 from Kyle Sharp got the innings back on track. James Cheek (22) and Henry Bartlett (28 not out) saw the Islanders home with 12 overs remaining.
Two unbeaten records are on the line at Steephill on Saturday as top of the table Wellow & Plaitford provide the opposition.
THIRD TEAM SLIP TO DEFEAT
An impressive innings of 97 not out from young Jack Bartlett helped GKN defeat Ventnor’s third team by three wickets in the Harwoods League at Steephill on Saturday.
Earlier, Mark Price and Steve Clutterbuck with a fine knocks of 82 and 51 respectively had led Ventnor to 180.
Image: TC7 under CC BY-ND 2.0
