CRICKETVENTNOR gave themselves a fighting chance of surviving the drop from Division 1 of the Southern Electric Premier League after a battling draw against St Cross Symondians last weekend.
Thanks to the result, the Island side go into this weekend’s 50-over basement battle with Lymington effectively 25 points ahead of them, and know that victory will see them stretch even further clear.
Only one club will be relegated and Lymington still have to play title-chasing Bournemouth and South Wilts.
In the last of their time games, Ventnor again lost the toss but stuck to their task effectively once an 82-run opening partnership had been broken. George Adair when on to hit 75 before Hampshire’s Hamza Riazuddin became one of Roger Miller’s three leg before victims as the visitors reached 150-4 with 19 overs remaining.
That was as good as it got for the Islanders as Lawrie Prittipaul produced an innings of sheer brilliance to effectively bat Ventnor out of the game. The former Hampshire man smashed 14 fours and a six in a high class, unbeaten knock of 101 to take the score to 299-4 from 59 overs.
Faced with both a daunting total and the pacy Riazuddin, Adam Hose and Richard Wilson got their heads down to ensure early wickets were not lost. The young openers compiled 98 vital runs for their side which provided a solid base from which to draw if not win the game. Hose’s departure for 71 prompted the loss of the middle order as quick runs were chased to gain valuable batting points. Ian Hilsum’s impressive 48 got his side close to 200 before another flurry of wickets saw the home side suddenly at 190-8.
With skipper Freeston barely able to look, Mark Whyte and Southern League debutant James Cheek survived the final deliveries to clinch a crucial seven points for their side.
Meanwhile, there was no such tension for Ventnor’s second team, who continue their impressive march to the Hampshire League Division Three title.
Mark Woodhouse’s side maintained their 100 per cent winning record with a nine-wicket thumping of Hamble at Steephill.
Henry Bartlett (2-23), Rob Snell (3-33) Kyle Sharp (2-36) and Darren Taylor (2-11) dismissed the visitors for 171, before a splendid unbroken partnership of 165 between young Bartlett (77) and Martin Blackman (83) led their side home with 16 overs to spare.
On Sunday, Sean Nowak hammered 157 from just 103 balls and James Cheek hit 50 from 18 deliveries, as Ventnor amassed 389 against London New Zealand at Steephill on Sunday. The visitors were all out for 184.