A highly encouraging start for Ventnor cricket was undone by middle order batting collapse as Hampshire Academy romped to a seven wicket win in Saturday’s Southern Electric Premier Division clash.
After Henry Bartlett had fallen leg before to Tom Barber, a second wicket partnership of 70 between the returning Jake George and Sean Willis and looked to given Ventnor a decent platform in the all day fixture on the Ageas Bowl Nursery ground.
The dismissal of George for 32 at 90-2 changed all that and when Willis was seventh out for a determined knock of 63, the visitors had only managed another 57 runs.
Their all out total of 154 was never going to pose any problems for the home team, Ventnor based Ben Duggan making an unbeaten 59 with eleven fours as victory was achieved inside 25 overs.
Ventnor welcome back Tom Friend for Saturday’s visit of Lymington to Newclose (11.30 start). The all-rounder has returned to the club from Weybridge and skipper Mark Holmes will be hoping his presence sparks a revival for the bottom of the table side.
STEEPHILL RUN GLUT ENDS IN DEFEAT
Almost 600 runs were scored in Saturday’s Hampshire League Division 1 encounter between Ventnor’s second team and Ropley but it was the visitors who came out on top by 57 runs.
With Ventnor’s bowling resources stretched to the limit, it was the number of dropped catches which proved more decisive on the day as Gerrard (111) and Spencer (152 not out) made hay with impressive knocks in a formidable total of 322-5.
The Ventnor reply hit early trouble before skipper Ben Woodhouse with 38 helped push the score to 117-2 inside 20 overs. His subsequent dismissal and that of Martin Blackman, run out for a fluent 51, simply left the home team too much to do and although George Hatt batted superbly to hit 72 from only 43 deliveries, an all out total of 265 (frustratingly with almost ten overs remaining), meant Ropley went home with maximum points.
The side travel to Ellingham on Saturday.
THIRD TEAM DEFEATED FOR THE FIRST TIME
The third team’s unbeaten start to the season ended on Saturday with defeat at picturesque Easebourne in Hampshire League Division Four East.
Langrish with 91 top scored in the home side’s total of 240-4, a total an under strength Ventnor side were unable to challenge as they were dismissed for 138, Nathan Sprengel making 25.
