A CENTURY by Tom Stafford was the highlight of the Isle of Wight Cricket League at the weekend.

In Division 1, some good batting from Marc Allen (76), Lee Brown (42) and Ritesh Dessai (37) gave St Helens a decent platform against Ventnor III.

St Helens set a target of 241-7, with Thomas Southcott getting 2-47.

However, their total was overhauled to win by seven wickets, thanks to a fine knock of 114 from left-hander Tom Stafford, together with decent knocks by skipper Gary Cooper (78) and Mark Price (42 not out). 

Isle of Wight County Press: Jason Heap performed well for Northwood.Jason Heap performed well for Northwood. (Image: Dave Reynolds)

Meanwhile, in Division 2, Cowes dramatically beat Newport II by one run with a ball to spare.

Cowes posted a modest-looking 166-4, with Jack Summers hitting a solid 61 not out, well supported by Jason Heap (31), with Stu Gurney pitching in with 2-19.

In reply, Newport II looked on course to win the game, with Gurney hitting 57 and John Godwin a useful 43, but thanks to some tight, effective bowling by Heap (3-20) and Scott Rice (2-28), Cowes managed to restrict Newport to 165-8 — an agonising run short. 

Northwood II also picked up a win, but much more comfortably than Cowes did.

Their opponents, Ryde III, were skittled out for a paltry 80, with Robert Hobbs top scoring with 30.

Neil Redmond (4-17) and Alix Hamilton (3-18) did all the damage with the ball.

Northwood II knocked off the runs comfortably to win by six wickets.