THE league cricket season got underway on Saturday and Ventnor’s visit to Basingstoke and North Hants ended in a disappointing 74-run defeat.
The Islanders’ attack made early in-roads and at 54-4 and then 104-7 (Rob Snell 2-26), the visitors were well on top.
But a partnership of 85 for the eighth wicket led a home team recovery to 221-8 from 50 overs.
In reply, Ventnor lost early wickets and were dismissed for 147.
Meanwhile, at Steephill in Division Four, the second team beat Solent Rangers by ten wickets.
Tommy Barton (60), on his Hampshire League debut for Ventnor, and Mark Fletcher (35) led their side past the visitors’ modest total of 115.
Sam Read (3-35), Charlie Turpin (2-25), Mark Fletcher (2-5) and Tommy Barton (2-8) dealt the earlier damage as their side claimed a maximum 24 points.
In Island League Division One, a youthful Ventnor third team pushed Freshwater all the way before succumbing to a two-wicket defeat.
Batting first, skipper Gary Cooper with 45, newcomer Oscar Livesey-Lodwick (39) and Mark Price (30) led Ventnor to a competitive 187-7 from 40 overs.
Cooper with 3-30 and young Joseph Hill (2-17) kept their side in the game, but 57 from Graham Gosden and 58 from Grant Richardson saw the West Wight side to victory with four overs remaining.
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