Cavaliers’ wicketkeeper Graham Gregory with Shanklin batsman Chris Lammiman. Picture by Robin Crossley.
CRICKETHAMPSHIRE fast bowler David Griffiths returned to his roots on Saturday to steer Shanklin to victory in Division 1 of the Harwoods Renault IW League.
Griffiths, who has been out of county action because of a knee injury, showed he was back on form by taking 4-58 against Ryde Cavaliers and scoring 62 runs himself.
Shanklin made 270, Griffiths’s tally boosting the 77 scored by Jim Thorn and the 40 hit by Chris Lammiman.
In reply, Cavaliers put in a valiant effort, led by Andy Loudon’s stunning 108. However, Griffiths and James Lucy (3-53) meant they could only finish on 229-8.
Previously unbeaten Newport were cut down to size by league title rivals St Helens at Victoria Recreation Ground.
In a low-scoring innings by St Helens’s recent standards, the Goose Island outfit finished on 161-9, Marc Allen top scoring with 29. Gareth Bricknell led Newport’s bowling attack with 3-35.
Newport must have felt as though they were in with a chance but ruthless bowling from Rob Love (6-24) and Chris Wright (4-27) made sure those hopes were quickly extinguished, as the hosts fell for just 56. Only Tom Dye (22) and Kev Winchcombe (10) hit double figures. However, Newport still hold a narrow lead.
At Park Road, records tumbled in Northwood folklore as they demolished Ventnor III by a massive 252 runs.
Ventnor made a good start in taking out Northwood’s openers cheaply but a club record partnership from Chris Williams (125) and Nick Heelan (107) meant they finished on 287-3.
Ash Goldsmith (4-8) and Steve Allwood (5-26) ripped through Ventnor’s innings, with only Marcus Toms reaching double figures as they fell for just 35.
There was a tighter match between Cowes and GKN, which the former won by five wickets.
GKN made 183-9, Liam Ringer top scoring with 57. Charlie Calloway was the pick of the Cowes bowlers, with 4-36.
In reply, Cowes reached the target with five wickets in hand, Scott Rice hitting 53, Kev Summers supporting with 32 and Hugh Calloway opening with 30.
In Division 2A, Freshwater edged a low-scoring match against a young Northwood II. Northwood were all out for just 79, Rob Bolwell (25) the only player to reach double figures as Jason Swain took 5-19. Freshwater made the target with five wickets in hand, Graeme Gosden leading the charge with 23 as they finished on 82-5.
Whitecroft enjoyed an eight-wicket win over Bembridge away from home.
Bembridge made 149, Karl Lacey top scoring with 33. But Andy Potts (66) and Will Maynard (44) ensured victory for Whitecroft.
In Division 2B, Charlie Tyler helped Cowes II on their way to a seven-wicket win over Ryde Cavaliers II. Cavs made 170-9 from their overs, Tyler taking 3-52, before he hit 37 in Cowes’s reply. Supporting him as Cowes reached 171-3, was Andy Flood, with 57.
Shanklin II defeated Arreton by 51 runs. Shanklin II made 205-7, Tristan Eccott leading the way with 66, well supported by S. Winterbottom, with 39.
Glenn Bailey, who was the pick of Arreton’s bowling attack with 3-33, led the reply with 36 but it was not enough as they were all out for 154.
Reporter: sport@iwcpmail.co.uk