VENTNOR MARCH ON WITH ANOTHER VICTORY
Ventnor clinched their eighth win in nine games after a convincing seven wicket victory over struggling Trojans at Stoneham Lane on Saturday.
Their 21 point haul edges them a little further ahead of second placed Rowledge, who claimed 18 points from a one wicket success at Havant. Andover are handily placed in third spot after defeating Burridge and with eight matches remaining, the destination of the Southern Electric Premier League division 2 title will almost certainly rest on the outcome of Ventnor’s away clashes with their north Hampshire rivals next month.
Ventnor’s latest success at Trojans came after the home team’s captain Simon Williams surprisingly decided to bat on winning the toss. He was soon to regret that move as Charlie Freeston (1-8) Mark Holmes (3-33) and John Birchall (1-29) reduced his side to 32-5. David Brown pushed the score to 80 with a grafting 29 before the introduction of Ian Hilsum and Tom Friend wrecked any chances of a recovery. Leg spinner Hilsum and teenage pace man Friend took 3-21 and 2-10 respectively to dismiss the Southampton side for 126 as the Islanders claimed maximum bowling points.
Mark Whyte’s side suffered an early set back when Alex Lloyd departed cheaply and further wickets fell at 41 and 62 as Neil Westhorpe (16) and John Birchall (17) were dismissed. However, Ryan Shutte ensured there were no further alarms as he and Ian Hilsum (18no) saw their side to a comprehensive win inside 32 overs. Ventnor’s South African all-rounder passed 400 Southern League runs for the season as his fluent, unbeaten knock of 60 pushed the home side to the bottom of the table.
Ventnor’s bid for a fourth successive title continues on Saturday when Tichborne Park visit Steephill. Matt Compton is likely to return to the side after RAF duty while Andy Whyte’s Achilles tendon trouble may again rule him out.
RECORD BREAKING DAY AS VENTNOR HIT 400!
Ventnor’s second team had members checking Hampshire League records on Saturday after a massive 373 run win over Bidbury in Division 4 South East.
The home side rattled up an extraordinary total of 403-3 with 250 runs being scored from the final 20 of their allotted 42 overs! The huge total was a Ventnor best, beating scores of 382 in East Division 2 in 1995 and 394 in County Division 2 in 2000, and was the third highest total in the history of the Hampshire League.
Leading the way was skipper David Beven with a splendid, career best 155 not out, supported by knocks 72 from Ben Woodhouse, 75 from Pat Morris and 43 from Danny Briggs.
The hapless, shell shocked visitors were then dismissed for just 30, with Briggs (4-11) and Chris Russell (4-16) doing the damage as Ventnor achieved the biggest winning margin in their 157 year history.
THIRD TEAM SUFFER HEAVY DEFEAT
Ventnor’s youthful third team came up against a more experienced Newport second string on Saturday and were defeated by 10 wickets at The Rec in Harwood’s Renault League division 2. The visitors could only manage 64 which Newport knocked off without loss.
UNDER 15’S LOSE REGIONAL FINAL
Ventnor’s under 15 side were comprehensively defeated by a talented Parley Sports side in the regional final of the Portman Building Society championship at Steephill on Sunday. The visitors, who won the national final last year, rattled up 164-5 from 20 overs and dismissed Ventnor for only 43.
LASHINGS WORLD XI NAME JAYASURIYA AND CAIRNS IN 13 MAN SQUAD
Lashings World XI have named two of the world’s greatest batsmen in their squad to play Ventnor at Steephill on Sunday 12 August at 2.30pm.
Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya, who played in the World Cup final last April, and New Zealand’s Chris Cairns, are set to provide great entertainment for the Island public as Lashings pay their fourth visit to Steephill.
Also included in the 13 are Richie Richardson, Alvin Kallicharran, Tino Best, Vasbert Drakes (West Indies) Nantie Hayward Hashim Amla (South Africa) Greg Blewett (Australia) Marvan Atapattu Russel Arnold (Sri Lanka) Clare Connor (England) Henry Olonga (Zimbabwe)
Ventnor have a few tables remaining in their Corporate Hospitality Marquee.
For further details, please contact Graeme Burnett on 07764405023.
