Ventnor had to settle for a winning draw and 16 points in Saturday’s ECB Southern Electric Premier Division fixture with St Cross Symondians at Newclose.
Mark Holmes’ side produced an efficient performance to generally dominate proceedings but were denied victory by the visitors’ last wicket pair who survived the closing overs to finish on 192-9.
Batting first, the hosts were given a 98 run start by openers Jake George and Ben Duggan before the former departed for a fluent 46. Left hander Duggan, who has acquitted himself so impressively in his first season as Premier Division player, went on to make a splendid 83 and with Ollie Mills contributing 52 and Marc-Antony Eysele 33, the Islanders closed their innings on 252-7 from 64 overs, probably 25 runs short of an ideal total on a flat pitch.
Ventnor’s seam attack of Holmes and Adam Wilson made early breakthroughs before a third wicket partnership of 75 between Young and McManus led a recovery. In an impressive spell, however, Wilson returned to the attack to dismiss both for 53 and 36 respectively to leave his side in the driving seat. Leg spinner Ian Hilsum gave little away in an effective 14 over stint to return 3-31 and with Eysele taking 2-44, the pair took their team to the brink of a welcome win before Richard Taylor’s unbeaten 41 frustrated them.
The team travel to Lymington on Saturday.
