Nowak Stars In Morale Boosting Victory
Ventnor clinched a much needed victory in the ECB Southern Electric Premier Division on Saturday, producing a fine performance to defeat Totton & Eling by five wickets.
Not since a win at Havant in mid-May had the Islanders tasted success, so a first victory at Newclose represented a real boost to confidence ahead of a tough visit to second placed South Wilts.
Totton, who were knocked out of the Twenty20 Cup by Ventnor the previous Sunday, batted first on winning the toss, but hit early trouble as Sean Nowak produced an inspired new ball spell which ripped out the top order.
Not for the first time this season, Ventnor were frustrated by a significant middle order partnership which took the score from 27-3 to 134 before David Beven and Ian Hilsum accounted for Owamir Afzal for 61 and James Manning (48) before lunch. Ricky Rawlins (58) pushed the score past 200 in the afternoon session before the home team rallied, Mark Holmes (3-44) doing most of the damage as the visitors slipped from 230-6 to 256 all out from 59 overs.
As Ventnor replied, the young opening pair of Richard Wilson and Adam Hose coped admirably in the face of a fiery new ball blast from the former Hampshire pair of Billy Taylor and Dan Goldstraw. Wilson in particular impressed, cracking five boundaries in a knock of 39 to help his side to 75-2. From a promising start, however, the innings took a down turn as Totton’s experienced duo struck after tea to leave Charlie Freeston’s side wobbling on 98-4.
Neil Westhorpe’s fluent 42 got Ventnor back on track before a tremendous unbeaten innings of 91 from Nowak won the match for the Premier Division new boys. The talented South African all-rounder crashed 12 fours and two sixes in an 89 ball knock, as he and Rob Snell, who played a crucial and impressive supporting role, saw their side home in a unbroken partnership of 106. Snell finished with 28 not out as Ventnor celebrated a welcome win and 25 points.
Ventnor prepare for Bournemouth visit
Ventnor are anticipating a bumper crowd for Sunday’s Southern Electric Twenty20 Cup quarter final with Bournemouth at Steephill at 3pm.
The Dorset side, the reigning national Twenty20 champions, will provide a stern test for a home team who may ask Hampshire to release Danny Briggs for the game. The action starts at 3pm.
Cheek leads the way for Ventnor
Ventnor’s second team march on in Hampshire League Division 3, comfortably defeating Fareham & Crofton II by seven wickets at Steephill.
The visitors batted first and spent 45 overs compiling 123-8 as Adam Wilson (4-32) and James Cheek (2-23) pegged them back.
The meagre total posed few problems for the home side, for whom young Cheek excelled, striking twelve fours in a fine unbeaten innings of 71.
Mark Woodhouse’s side take their unbeaten record to Vospers on Saturday.
Image: TC7 under CC BY-ND 2.0
