INDOOR CRICKETYOUNG Cavaliers were crowned champions of the Sandrock Services League — with a week still to play.
By defeating Cask & Crispin, they cannot now be caught by their nearest rivals.
Harry Bradley, Dan Keller and Sam Rockley all scored freely as the Cavaliers’ reached an imposing 152-1. Chris Ash and Owain Hooper batted positively in the Crispin’s reply, but the momentum could not be maintained and the Cavaliers prevailed by ten runs.
Ryde CC Colts secured second place after defeating Bembridge.
A good opening partnership between Ollie Moseley and Andy Davis was the foundation of the Colts’ score of 158-2. Moseley then captured two wickets as Bembridge collapsed to 65 all out.
Freshwater will contest third place with Cask & Crispin after defeating bottom-of-the-table Wootton.
Batting first, Freshwater had a good start as Graham Gosden, Jason Swain and Josh Hebden scored well and set Wootton a daunting 158 to win.
Wootton lost wickets steadily, despite a gallant 47 by Cyrus Dean. Hebden collected two wickets, and on his return to indoor cricket Mark Fennell returned figures of 3-14.
Arreton continued their good run with a 46-run win against Binstead Royals. Gary Cooper top-scored with 28 not out in their innings total of 137-4.
Royals lost Barry Lloyd in the first over of their reply and never looked like surpassing their opponent’s score. They were eventually dismissed for 71, with Mark Scudder picking up two wickets.
HARWOODS RENAULT INDOOR LEAGUE
Attention turned to the relegation battle in Harwoods Renault Indoor League Division 1 at Fairway Sports Complex last Sunday.
Still seeking their first win, Island Bakeries opened knowing defeat would almost certainly send them to Division 2 but openers’ Sam Richards (31 not out) and Ellis Ridett (13) started positively, putting on 52 for the first wicket in just four overs.
The loss of Ridett didn’t stem the flow of runs, however, Ian Simmonds (27 not out) and Murray Jones (26) pushing the score on to 165-4 by the close.
Northwood’s reply started brightly until Matt Webb (3-31) gutted the middle order, leaving opener Jeff Barrett (41) with too much to do and no support, the last wicket falling with the score on 90.
The four points, and a better run-rate, lifted Bakeries off the bottom.
With their nearest rivals without a game, leaders Newport made the most it to go four points clear, with an easy victory over Ryde Cavaliers.
Newport’s Gareth Bricknell (29 not out), Tom Dye (39 not out), Dom Burbidge (27 not out) and Louis Payne (25) helped the side reach 163-3. Harry Bradley took 2-41.
Cavaliers’ reply was listless, with the final six overs yielding just eight runs as the innings ended on 41-2.
Ventnor moved up to second place in the table with another routine victory, this time over GKN.
Batting first, GKN struggled to reach a decent score, Stuart Robertson (20 not out) the only batsman to reach double figures in a total of 72-5.
Ventnor knocked off the runs with three wickets to spare.
GKN II moved above their first team in the table with victory against Ryde. GKN’s opener Alan Johns (28), Martin Hartnell (35) and Steve Wright (17) steered the scoreboard to 116.
Ryde started well but were slowed by the loss of three wickets in as many overs and when Rob Holdcroft (3-21) dismissed Mark Oatley (31), Ryde still needed 41 to win.
Last man John Zaccardi (31) hit a series of boundaries but they fell 14 runs short.