Congratulations to Ventnor Cricket Club on their successful weekend. Ed
PONGOLO THE MATCH WINNER AT HAMBLEDON
Ventnor’s defence of the Southern Electric Premier League Division 2 title began with a three wicket win in a low scoring affair at newly promoted Hambledon on Saturday. The Islanders gave League debuts to Richard Wilson and Joby Wells and welcomed back Matt Compton and Mark Fletcher after long term injuries.
On a pitch where every run had to be worked for, the home side batted first and struggled throughout against an accurate visiting attack.
New skipper Charlie Freeston dismissed both openers before pacemen Rob Snell (1-16) and Zanzima ‘Nono’ Pongolo (3-23) reduced the innings to 68-7. De Mellow (29) and Moseley (21) led a partial recovery with a partnership of 60 before David Beven’s spell of 3-17 saw the Ridge Meadow side slip to 135 all out from 39.5 overs.
Ventnor’s reply hit early trouble as Richard Wilson, Ian Hilsum, Neil Westhorpe and Joby Wells departed cheaply and when Matt Compton fell for 19, half the side were back in the pavilion with only 63 runs on the board. With the visitors still requiring 73 for victory, it was Nono Pongolo and Mark Fletcher who turned the match Ventnor’s way with a watchful partnership of 45 for the sixth wicket. Fletcher’s patient knock ended at 16 but young South African Pongolo went on to hit a crucial, unbeaten 43 as he and Rob Snell with an invaluable 15no edged their side home with less than three overs remaining.
DEBUTANT ALLEN BAGS NAP HAND IN NATIONAL KO VICTORY
Ventnor moved into the second round of the National Club Championship with an excellent six wicket win at Littlehampton on Sunday.
Mark Allen, on his debut, and Charlie Freeston, ripped through the home side’s batting order to take 5-26 and 4-44 respectively as the Sussex side were dismissed for 103 inside 22 overs.
The Islanders lost early wickets in their response, but Richard Wilson’s impressive knock of 42 and Neil Westhorpe with 21 eased the visitors to a confident victory with more than 20 overs remaining.
Freeston’s side now face a tough trip to Havant in round 2 on 17 May. The Southern League Premier 1 side have an impressive record in the competition and hammered Horsham by 80 runs to set up the Ventnor clash.
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON AS HOSE HITS 157
Adam Hose, the teenage son of Ventnor legend Jeff, smashed 157 in a brilliant innings at Steephill at the weekend. Facing tourists Sheen Park, the 16 year old reminded the on-looking Ventnor members of his father in his prime as he struck 5 sixes and an array of sweetly struck boundaries, racing from 100 to 150 in just 20 deliveries.
Hose’s splendid efforts enabled a youthful Ventnor team to reach 238-8 and then bowl the visitors out for 120.
WEEKENDS FIXTURES
Ventnor’s first team have a Southern League home game with Hook & Newnham Basics on Saturday at 1pm while the second team’s League season gets under way with an away fixture at Paultons II in Hampshire League division 4. The side, captained by Rob Snell, will be looking to continue their progress through the divisions with a third successive promotion but are likely to find the opposition much tougher this time around.
The third team, lucky enough to play their home games at the superb County Cricket Ground at Newclose, face Shanklin II at the new venue at 2pm in the opening Harwood’s Renault division 2 fixture.
The first team travel to Shanklin on Sunday to compete for the Roy Tiller Memorial Trophy while the second team play host to Jolly Rogers from Kent.
LASHINGS BACK AGAIN!
The Lashings World XI return to Steephill for the sixth successive season on Sunday 23 August at 2.30. The ever popular fixture attracted a record crowd last season and the Club look forward to welcoming some new additions to the line up this year, including Graeme Hick, Ian Harvey, Jason Gillespie and Saqlain Mushtaq.
