If you’re into cricket, here’s the latest from Ventnor Cricket Club.
VENTNOR SUFFER HEAVY DEFEAT AT BOURNEMOUTH
Ventnor were decisively beaten by 115 runs by Southern League Premier Division leaders Bournemouth at Chapel Gate on Saturday.
The Dorset team batted first and were pegged back by Sean Nowak and Charlie Freeston who both impressed with the new ball as Nick Park’s side struggled to 72-3.
When Roger Miller trapped Simon Ridley leg before on the stroke of lunch, Ventnor would have been happy with their morning’s work in restricting the table toppers to 126-4 from 36 overs.
David Beven’s impressive post lunch three wicket spell gave the Islanders further cause for optimism with Bournemouth eight down for 186. Not for first time this season, however, Freeston’s side were thwarted by a lower order partnership which added 58 for the ninth wicket as Park (56 not out) and Tom Wainwright (27 not out) led their side to 244-8 from 64 overs.
Ventnor’s hopes of a decent start were shattered within the opening overs as Matt Metcalfe, the League’s leading wicket taker, accounted for Mark Fletcher and Richard Wilson with only 23 runs on the board.
As the innings folded disappointingly, only Neil Westhorpe (37) and Rob Snell (36 not out) offered resistance as the visitors slipped to 129 all out in only 43 overs.
Ventnor face fellow strugglers St Cross Symondians at Newclose on Saturday as the season enters a crucial phase. Their encounter with Lawrie Prittipaul’s side represents the eighth and final match in the time game format before the league reverts to the 50 over version for the remaining four weeks of the season.
TIGHT FINISH BUT SECOND TEAM MARCH ON
Ventnor took another step towards the Hampshire League Division 3 title with a narrow 13 run win over Old Tauntonians and Romsey at the Sports Centre on Saturday.
On a pitch where batting was never straight forward, the Islanders were given a solid start by James Cheek (27) and Ben Woodhouse who went on to hit a crucial half century. The visitors failed to capitalise on that solid base, however, and slipped from 143-5 to 185 all out inside 42 overs, Henry Bartlett contributing 23.
The home side’s positive response saw them reach 57 without loss before Bartlett got to work. The young Ventnor all-rounder took 4-25 from an excellent ten over stint to reduce to hosts to 104-5 as the Islanders seized the initiative. As O T’s fought back, Mark Woodhouse’s team were made to work for their twelfth successive win before Darren Taylor (3-42) helped clinch victory in the final over.
Ventnor take on Hamble at Steephill on Saturday at 2pm.
HEAVY DEFEAT FOR THIRD TEAM
Chasing a large Newport total of 260 in the Harwood’s League on Saturday, a poor batting performance saw Ventnor’s third team dismissed for only 68.
Image: TC7 under CC BY-ND 2.0
