INDOOR CRICKETNITON continued their unbeaten start to the season with a straight-forward win over Island Bakeries in the Harwoods Renault Indoor League Division 1 last Sunday.
Batting first, Niton recovered from the early loss of the in-form Tom Doble to post a solid 135 all out (Joby Wells 35, Tom Wells 36, Sam Richards 3-20). In reply, Bakeries started slowly and despite building some momentum in the middle of the innings never threatened to win the game, slipping to 92 all out (Steve Williams 28, Joby Wells 2-6, Les Cupis 2-15) in the final over.
Ryde won the battle of the Ryde clubs with a comprehensive win over Cavaliers, the points all but secured with a superb batting display as they reached 171-1 (Kevin Cooper 26 not out, John Zaccardi 30 not out, Lawrence Tolfrey 28 not out and Julian Jayerajah 24 not out), a total beyond the Cavs’ batsmen.
Despite the best efforts of Chris Higgins (53 not out) and Harry Bradley (33 not out), they could only reach 128-4.
SVYC maintained their impressive start, Paul Biddlecombe (29) and Nat Riddett (37 not out) capitalising on 66 extras to post 167-5 before restricting Northwood, still adapting to life in the top division, to 109-4 (Harry Collier 37 not out).
Newport were gifted four points as Ventnor surprisingly failed to field a team.
In Division 2 at Ryde Sports Centre, Whitecroft maintained their unbeaten start with a 12-run win over a Ryde Cavaliers Veterans side also in good form.
Batting first Whitecroft started brightly and maintained the momentum as all the batsmen contributed to record 159-1 (J. Godwin, K. Barnes, Matt Fuller and D. Tomlin all posting high unbeaten scores.
A youthful-looking Veterans set about the chase with determination, George Niemiec (31no) making the most of the 78 extras to keep the pressure on the bowling, the innings ending on 147-5 (J. Godwin 4-35).
The IW Prison Officers collected their first points of the season with a last over victory against the IW Health Associates. Don Roe’s unbeaten 28 was the main contribution as the Health Associates posted 110-4.
In reply, openers Adam Wilson (28 not out) and John Turner started the chase quickly before bogging down a little as the Health Associates took the pace off the ball, before Rowe (20 not out) and Kerr (22 not out) saw them home with wickets to spare.
Godshill made light work of GKN III.
Godshill batted first, Jez Robinson (35 not out) building on a solid start to post a competitive 123-5.
GKN III’s reply started brightly but three direct hit run-outs all but put the win out of sight, the innings slipping to 87 all out with an over remaining.
Ryde II posted a comprehensive victory over Newport II, Simon Wratten (29), Mike Dalloz (45 not out), and Pete Dickenson (27 not out) accelerating the score in the latter stages to post 182-3. Newport slumped to 49 all out, Simon Bligh (3-10) the pick of the bowling.