CRICKETVENTNOR moved into second place in the Southern Electric Premier League Division 2 after a 65-run win at Hartley Wintney on Saturday.
Ventnor posted 227-9 from their 50 overs. Neil Westhorpe (39) and Ian Hilsum (45) top scored and handy contributions from Richard Wilson (19) Matt Compton (14) and Nono Pongolo (13) kept the scoreboard ticking over before Mark Fletcher put in an invaluable 31 not out. Hartley enjoyed an excellent start, posting 32 from the opening six overs, before Mark Allen and Joby Wells broke through in quick succession.
Pongolo and Allen inflicted further damage and when Hilsum dismissed Baldwin and Cockram, the home team were all but out of the contest. A knock of 56 from Matt Digweed provided resistance but effective spells from Matt Compton (1-22) and David Beven (2-26) reduced the hosts to 145-9 before man of the match Hilsum claimed a third wicket to clinch the match.
Ventnor host strugglers Hambledon on Saturday.
The second team maintained their place at the top of Hampshire League Division 4 after a tight game with Bashley III. Rob Snell’s side looked set for a comfortable win after reaching 73-2 in pursuit of the visitors’ 148 total. Adam Hose impressed with 42 but when the teenager was dismissed wickets started to tumble. Skipper Snell’s innings of 44 edged his side towards their target but when he departed, ten runs were still required with three wickets remaining.
Bashley’s veteran seamer Bob Paul (5-36) then clean bowled Barney Tyler and Arthur Halsey, leaving the reliable Peter Buckley (8 not out) to eke out the runs required. Ventnor travel to Hambledon II on Saturday.
TWENTY20
A tremendous partnership of 124 between Neil Westhorpe and Ian Hilsum led Ventnor to a massive 195-4 in Sunday’s Southern Electric Twenty20 clash with Fareham.
Fareham’s reply got off to the worst possible start when Mark Allen dismissed Liam Thomas without a run on the board.
The visitors never recovered from that early blow, and although Kevin Light cracked an excellent 66 not out, Ventnor won comfortably by 59 runs.
The Islanders will face cup holders and Premier 1 title challengers Bournemouth at home quarter final next Sunday, July 12.
In Ventnor’s late afternoon fixture with Leatherhead, Matt Roberts hit 60 for the Surrey tourists but his proved the only telling contribution as the visitors slipped from 80-2 to 127 all out, Neil Westhorpe (4-11) Mark Allen (4-11) and Josh Franklin (2-13) the men responsible.
Tom Friend made short work of the target, blitzing an unbeaten 90, as Ventnor cantered to a seven-wicket win from only 14 overs.