FINE ALL ROUND DISPLAY BRINGS TITLE CLOSER
Ventnor are eight points away from a fourth successive Southern Electric Premier League Division 2 title after a superb 108 run victory over Rowledge on Saturday. This emphatic win over their nearest challengers saw Mark Whyte’s side return to the top of the table and in pole position to lift the championship once again. Ventnor’s final match takes them to Purbrook on Saturday while Rowledge face an awkward finale at Lymington, who put paid to Andover’s title hopes last weekend.
Ventnor know that victory on Portsdown Hill will guarantee them the title, regardless of Rowledge’s result in the New Forest, while a defeat would still see them finish top provided they collect eight bonus points. If they lost and claimed fewer than eight points, the Surrey border team could pip them to the title if they bagged maximum points at Lymington.
Rowledge captain Ricky Yates invited Ventnor to bat first on winning the toss but was to rue that decision as Matt Compton and Alex Lloyd made light of the damp surface. The opening pair were outstanding in a century partnership of 105 before Lloyd fell for an impresssive 47. Left hander Compton went on to hit a splendid 73 as he and Ryan Shutte (29) and John Birchall (18) ensured the visitors posted a challenging total of 222-7 from 50 overs.
The match was effectively over as a contest within ten overs after tea as Ventnor’s opening attack ripped through the home team’s highly rated top order. Mark Holmes and Charlie Freeston did the damage with devastating new ball spells, taking three wickets a piece to reduce the north Hampshire side to 35-6. Shutte, Tom Friend and Ian Hilsum inflicted further damage before Holmes returned to the attack, clean bowling last man Bonser to leave the shell shocked league leaders 114 all out and Ventnor toasting an outstanding all round performance.
The Steephill side are likely to be unchanged as the season reaches it’s climax at Purbrook.
TITLE FOR SECOND TEAM
The Club’s second team celebrated the Hampshire League division 4 South East title without bowling a ball after opponents Portchester failed to raise a side!
THIRD TEAM DEFEAT SHANKLIN
Ventnor’s youthful third team produced an impressive performance to defeat Shanklin II by 69 runs at Steephill on Saturday in Harwood’s League Division 2. Lloyd Parker hit a fine 86 for the home team and received great support from 14 year old Jacob George who scored 56, his maiden league half century.
Steve Fisher responded with 55 for Shanklin, but Parker capped a man of the match performance with 5-14 as the Westhill side were dismissed for 135.
Fixtures
Sat
Purbrook (away) SEPL 1pm
Newport II (home) HRL 2pm
Sun
Salisbury (home) 1.30
