Ventnor’s 2nd team are celebrating promotion after clinching the Hampshire League Division 3 South title after a 6-wicket win over local rivals Shanklin & Godshill at Steephill on Saturday.
This latest success represents a 2nd successive promotion for Ben Davies’s side, who can look forward to Division 2 cricket next season within a revised Hampshire League structure comprising 10 teams per division playing each other home and away.
The visitors were invited to bat first and suffered an early set back as Matt Lambourne was brilliantly caught by Hugh Calloway at slip off the pacey Chris Russell.
From there, Seb Egerton-Read (20), George Niemiec (27) and Sean Phillips (30 not out) top scored as Ben White’s team recovered from 127-7 to reach 172-8 from their 45 overs, Charlie Calloway with 3-39 was the pick of the home side’s bowlers.
In reply, Ventnor lost 2 wickets in the opening overs before a partnership of 94 between Ben Attrill and Neil Westhorpe turned the match their side’s way.
Attrill struck 8 fours and a six in a fine knock of 51, while left hander Westhorpe struck 10 boundaries in an impressive and undefeated innings of 66 to ensure victory and the League title with six overs to spare.
DEFEAT FOR VENTNOR AT TOTTON & ELING
Ventnor’s first team closed their Southern Premier League Division One campaign with a narrow 14 run defeat at Totton & Eling on Saturday.
The visitors’ bowling attack held the upper hand for much of the afternoon as the hosts were reduced to 117-7 with George Watts (2-49), Rob Snell (1-25) and Dineth Thimodya (3-31) doing the damage.
However, a substantial recovery (Billy Blyghton 50) saw them eventually post 223-8 from 50 overs.
A 62-run opening partnership (Dineth Thimodya 49, Ben Woodhouse 19) gave Ventnor encouragement before the loss of quick wickets saw them slip to 125-5. A run-a-ball 31 from Henry Edwards and a patient 38 not out from Toby Noyes kept the Islanders in the hunt but further wickets cost them as the home side claimed a final day win.
