INDOOR CRICKETNEWPORT kept up the pressure on league leaders Ventnor in Division 1 of the Harwoods Renault Indoor League at Fairway Sports Complex last Sunday.
Batting first, Newport set Ryde a challenging 151-4 to chase, Tom Dye (52 not out) and Gareth Bricknell (46 not out) bagging the bulk of the runs.
Ryde made a solid start until a clatter of wickets left them struggling to match the run-rate, and they were eventually bowled out for 110 with ten balls remaining.
Ryde Cavaliers recorded a narrow win over relegation-threatened Island Bak-eries.
Solid batting from the Cavs top order kept the scoreboard ticking, reaching 136-4 (Mark Solley 26, Chris Higgins 29 not out, Alan Johns 25 not out) from their 12 overs. Sensing an opportunity to secure their Division 1 status, Bakeries’ batsmen set after the total aggressively, keeping ahead of the run-rate until a spate of run outs left them needing nine runs off the final over with one wicket remaining.
Disciplined bowling pressured the batsman, the final wicket falling five runs short with two balls to spare (Richard Webb 34, Tony Cook 27).
Niton completed their league programme with a routine victory over Ryde Cavaliers II. Cavaliers II were never in the chase after Niton racked up 161-5 (Joby Wells 44, B. Fooks 36), and they were bowled out in the final over for 85, leaving Niton in confident form as they prepare to take on Poole CC on Sunday in the National Indoor Championship.
The match takes place at the Fairway Sports Complex, from 2.30pm.
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In beating nearest rivals, West Island, Bembridge are now almost assured of retaining the Sandrock Services League title.
They seized the initiative from the first ball of their innings and compiled a score of 144-2. Lee Thompson (29 not out) set the tone and the momentum was maintained by Maano Obeyseyere (26 not out) and Karl Lacey (26 not out).
West Island started brightly, and a fluent innings of 29 not out from Joel Farrell kept them in the hunt, but some tight bowling in the closing overs from Lee Thompson and Dan McArthur (2-36) sealed the match for Bembridge.
Young Cavaliers tightened their grip on third place with a two-wicket victory over Ryde CC Youth.
Youth registered a score of 131-4 after a slow start, with Guy Bonnett top-scoring with 38 not out, and Sam Rockley (28 not out) also batting well.
In reply, Cavaliers paced their innings with impressive maturity. Andy Loudon scored 33 not out and Dan Keller made 27. Harry Bradley gave the Youth hope with two late wickets, but Loudon and Dan Richards saw the Cavaliers home.
Bottom-placed Binstead Royals caused an upset by defeating Cask and Crispin.
Set just 99 to win, Crispin collapsed to 63 all out.
Almost 30 runs came off the first two overs but the introduction into the attack of Geoff Smith and Chris Hebberd proved decisive. Hebberd returned 3-9 from his three overs and Smith (2-12) also impressed.
Earlier, Ian Lee had scored 30 for the Royals and Richard Jones-Evans had picked up two wickets for Crispin.
Arreton enjoyed a comfortable win over Wootton.
Bill Maidment and Mike Holliday got Wootton off to a good start, but the innings subsided once they were dismissed and, with Kevin Cooper (25 not out) at the helm, Arreton reached their target with few alarms.