Ventnor Cricket Club’s hopes of building on the previous week’s victory over Lymington were dashed by a disappointing performance at Havant in the Southern Electric Premier Division on Saturday.
The Islanders lost a one sided contest by eight wickets and with second from bottom Sarisbury Athletic winning at Alton, Mark Holmes’ side need a positive result in Saturday’s all day clash with St Cross Symondians at Newclose to make up lost ground.
Batting first at Havant Park, Jake George (25) and Henry Bartlett (18) gave their side a start, but after Sean Willis fell for 23, only the last wicket pair of Charlie Calloway (24) and Holmes (9 not out) put together any sort of partnership as the innings subsided to 126 all out, Andrew Gorvin taking 4-37.
Two early wickets from Tom Friend gave cause for optimism but that was as good as it got for Ventnor as the home team romped home inside 21 overs, Robert Gibson making 67 and Gorvin 51.
Meanwhile a match of ebb and flow ulimately went Hook & Newnham’s way in Saturday’s Hampshire League Division 1 encounter at Steephill for Ventnor’s second team.
On another excellent pitch, courtesy of Groundsman Jacobus Hooneberg, the visitors moved to 172-1, before the home side fought back impressively. Martin Blackman (2-18) and Barney Tyler (2-34) broke a 130 run partnership before George Willis produced an inspired spell in tandem with wicket keeper Hooneberg who took four catches to help the young seamer finish with 4-37.
Chasing a target of 237, the home side were given a solid start by George Niemiec who made 31 and Hooneberg (16) but tight mid innings spells from the Hook attack meant Martin Blackman (43) and Ben Herridge (22) found it difficult to accelerate as the Islanders stuttered to 140-5.
With 90 runs needed from the final twelve overs, the innings was given impetus by skipper Ben Woodhouse and Rob Snell whose fine knock of 49 from only 24 deliveries included six fours and two sixes, but with a welcome win within reach, the left hander was run out attempting a second run.
Tyler, Willis, Tom Stafford and Harry Ridley edged them closer but another run out finally ended the innings thirteen runs short of victory.
The side travel to Shrewton on Saturday.
Ventnor’s third team got back to winning ways with a 77 run win at Petersfield III in Saturday’s Hampshire League Division 4 South East game.
Batting first, skipper Ali Cotton led the way with a fine innings of 73 with excellent support from 14 year old Ben Attrill, whose half century was his first in competitive adult cricket.
The home team’s hopes of challenging the total were scuppered by Marcus Toms, the medium pacer taking 6-41 to bowl his side to victory.
Ventnor welcome Bedhampton III to Steephill on Saturday at 2pm.
Ventnor’ under 19 side embark on a new venture on Sunday with the first of six games in the ECB Nat West T20 competition.
The competition, in a group format, gives Ventnor’s young players the opportunity to pit their wits against clubs from Hampshire and Dorset with Parley Sports near Bournemouth the visitors to Steephill on Sunday at 2pm. Ventnor’s group also consists of Calmore Sports, Old Tauntonians & Romsey, New Milton, Bashley and Fawley.
The winners of each group will meet on finals day in September.
Ventnor are grateful to Park Resorts, Lower Hyde Holiday Park in Shanklin for their sponsorship of the players kit.
