A dramatic final evening in the Isle of Wight Indoor Leagues saw Island Bakeries and Wight Whizzers crowned champions of their respective leagues, 2 weeks after Ventnor B were also confirmed as winners of their division.
Going into the final matches of the season, 3 teams (Ventnor A, Island Bakeries and Northwood & Arreton) could still win Division 1, whilst a further 3 teams (Northwood B, Wight Whizzers & IW Women) could still top Division 3.
Starting the evening in 2nd place, Island Bakeries – who were promoted as Division 2 Champions last winter – sent themselves to the top of the Division 1 table with victory over Newport.
Newport, who sat bottom of the table without a win, saved their best batting performance for the end of the season, posting 143-3. Manuel Kannampuzha top-scored with an unbeaten 33, with Jack Powell adding 26*, whilst Guy Wells took 2-36.
However, Wells (31), Ellis Ridett (28*) and Nick Stafford (28*) all retired in reply, as Bakeries made light work of the chase, winning by three wickets with an over to spare.
Victory for the Bakeries sent them ahead of Ventnor A in the league table ahead of a crucial final match of the season between Ventnor A and Northwood & Arreton. Northwood & Arreton needed a maximum-point victory to take the title, whilst any win was enough for the Steephill side.
Jack Powell (24) was again in the runs, along with Thomas Southcott (21) and Harrison McQuillan (20*) as Ventnor posted 111-5, Callum Witham taking 2-36.
George Watts (1-11) bowled economically in reply, but Mark Hartnell (27*) and Kevin Cooper (26*) led Northwood & Arreton to a four-wicket win with five balls to spare. However, losing the second wicket meant that Northwood & Arreton took nineteen points from the game, leaving Island Bakeries just a point clear at the top of the table to secure their first ever Indoor Division 1 title, with Ventnor A a further six behind Northwood & Arreton.
In Division 3, Wight Whizzers hit a stunning 210-5 from their 12 overs, with Manu (41*), Arjun (40), Malin Rajendran (34), Midhun Devassy (30) and Jinu KP (27) all retiring, despite figures of 4-30 from IW Women’s Alex Barton.
Barton and Jess Glover then both made 25* in reply, but IW Women finished on 121-2 to give Wight Whizzers the win and the Division 3 title in their first season of competition since forming as a side.
Division 2 had already been wrapped up by Ventnor B, but Porchfield and Shanklin & Godshill A had second-place to play for. Jack Oliver (39*) and Owain Hooper (30) both retired as Porchfield posted 127-5, Alfie Pease taking 2-22.
In reply, Shanklin & Godshill A slipped to 38-4, Hooper taking 2-21, but a wonderful innings from Tom Roscoe (59) took them close, before they were eventually dismissed for 108 inside the final over.
The other game of the evening was also in Division 2, with Cowes facing St Helens. Jack Summers took 1-11 as St Helens were restricted to 95-3, Mark Hartnell retiring on 25, with Max Bushby-Harris adding 22. Chris Earley then took 1-14, but Muditha Naresh (21*) and Sean Turner (21) helped Cowes to a three-wicket win to lift them off bottom spot.
