Billy Clarke, left, and Hugh Calloway, at the Ventnor scoreboard. Picture by Mike Vimpany.
CRICKET
A MAGNIFICENT partnership of 282 between Hugh Calloway and Billy Clarke — believed to be both a Ventnor II and Hampshire League record stand for the second wicket — propelled the Division 2 leaders to a massive 347-2 against Rowner on Saturday.
The ever-improving Calloway thumped 19 fours and three sixes in a terrific knock of 149 while Clarke, just 17, cracked 16 boundaries and four sixes in a splendid unbeaten 135.
The pair were only separated when Calloway was run out in the final over as the home side rattled up an enormous total on another fine pitch at Steephill.
Faced with such a target the dispirited visitors offered little resistance, collapsing to 84 all out with leg spinner David Beven (5-23) and seamers Kevin Cooper (2-27) and Hugh Calloway (2-7) doing the damage.
Meanwhile, Ventnor’s first team were again thwarted by the monsoon-like conditions of recent weeks with their Southern Electric Premier Division match at Alton postponed due to a waterlogged outfield.
Havant are the visitors to Newclose tomorrow (Saturday) at 11.30am.
On Sunday, Ben Woodhouse (63 not out) and Hugh Calloway (47) helped Ventnor defeat Putney by six wickets in the Maurice Lickens Memorial Cup at Steephill.
The home side were chasing the Londoners’ modest 154, Josh Franklin taking an impressive 4-5 with his off-spin.
Meanwhile, Ventnor’s hopes of making further progress in the MCC Spirit of Cricket under-13 competition were ended by a strong Brighton and Hove side last Friday.
Batting first, Marcus Horton (30), Ross Whyte (23), Ben Herridge (16) and Sam Challis (19) batted well to lead their side to 93-6 from their 20 overs, but the visitors overhauled this target for the loss of two wickets with six overs remaining.