INDOOR CRICKETVENTNOR maintained their unbeaten record in Division 1 of the Harwoods Renault Indoor League at Fairway Sports Complex last Sunday.
St Helens batted first and were grateful to Lee Brown (69 not out) as they posted a competitive 123-5, a total Ventnor passed in assured fashion for the loss of just two wickets (Adam Hose 26 not out).
FSC’s title challenge was dented despite posting 142-5 (Mark Woodhouse 41, Paul Biddlecombe 25 not out). After losing an early wicket, Ryde never looked troubled, passing the total without further loss with eight balls to spare (Charlie Sammons 28 not out, Lawrence Tolfrey 26 not out, K. Cooper 27 not out).
Joby Wells (48 not out) was the main contributor as Niton (140-5) eased relegation fears with a hard-fought win over Island Bakeries.
Bakeries always had the total within their sights until they lost quick wickets near the end of the innings, ending on 122 all out.
In Division 2 at Ryde Sports Centre, a top of the table clash between Shanklin and Ryde Cavaliers IV all but ended the Cavaliers’ title hopes as they were dismissed for just 105 (D. Buckeridge 48), a total easily passed by Shanklin with five wickets and overs to spare (Simon Mead 25 not out, Tristan Eccott 25 not out, Jim Thorn 27 not out).
Northwood made it a two-horse title race going into next week’s final round of matches with a regulation victory over Whitecroft, who never looked likely to chase Northwood’s 127-2 (Gavin Paddock 28 not out, Ashley Goldsmith 27 not out), eventually bowled out for 87.
Ryde Cavaliers III’s outside hopes of a title challenge were ended by defeat to the IW Prison Officers who posted 159-5 on the back of a magnificent innings from Jon Turner (107 not out).
Assisted by some indisciplined bowling, Cavs batted intelligently to stay in with a chance until they were eventually bowled out 27 runs short.
Godshill finally found some batting form to win the basement battle against Cowes Centurions, overcoming Cowes’s 105-6 (Paul Morris 40, Norton Mew 3-21) without losing a wicket (Graeme Palmer 30 not out, Norton Mew 28 not out).
SANDROCK SERVICES LEAGUE
BEMBRIDGE continued their impressive form with a 76-run win against Cask and Crispin in the Sandrock Services League.
A hard-hitting innings of 42 not out by Dan McArthur and useful contributions by Lee Thompson (24) and Karl Lacey (27 not out) allowed the league leaders to post 175-3.
Crispin never looked likely to overhaul such a large score. T. Johns (25 not out) displayed enterprise but received little support and the Crispin fell well short of their target.
In their match against Young Cavaliers, second-placed West Island batted indifferently against some accurate bowling and their score of 120 looked vulnerable.
But Cavaliers also struggled with the bat and a mere 35 runs came off the first six overs of their innings.
Joel Farrell and Glenn Bailey bowled splendidly and as the pressure mounted on the Cavaliers, wickets were lost to run-outs. Despite of a heroic effort by Andy Loudon (38 not out), West Island emerged victorious from a tense encounter.
After three overs Ryde Youth were 18-3 in their match with Arreton and were seemingly destined for a heavy defeat. They were however given hope by a fighting innings from Sam Rockley (38) and their bowlers responded magnificently. Set just 101 to win, Arreton were dismissed for a lowly score of 33, Stuart Robertson and Harry Bradley each taking two wickets.
In the morning’s final game, Wootton defeated Binstead Royals in a high-scoring affair.
Thanks largely to innings of 48 from Mike Holliday and 33 from Cyrus Dean, Wootton were able to set Binstead of target of 156 for victory.
The Royals were not overawed and Alex Dear (43) and Chris Hebberd (26) gave the innings a good start, but their efforts were not quite good enough and Wootton won by 22 runs.