Ventnor have fallen to 5th in Southern Premier Division 1 after losing by 5 wickets to Portsmouth at Steephill on Saturday (25th June).
Ventnor won the toss and elected to bat.
The Island side made an excellent start with an opening partnership of 108 between Rob Snell and Sri Lankan professional Dineth Thimodya. Snell was the 1st wicket to fall – clean bowled by Minhaj Jalill for 60. Captain Ben Woodhouse was the next to go – caught by James Woodhouse off the bowling of Wimble for 25. Then, Portsmouth removed Ventnor’s main threat – Rakshith Rao clean bowling Thimodya for 87.
Hugh Calloway (4) and Martin Blackman (4) both lost their wickets cheaply. Then, Ross Whyte had his stumps removed by Reuben McArdle for 31. Ventnor’s tail failed to wag, the home side eventually reaching 260 for the loss of 9 wickets in the 50th over.
Ventnor: 260/9
In reply, Portsmouth began their innings disastrously with opener Ben Duggan caught off the bowling of Zach Wells for a duck. This was followed by 2 short rain breaks after which Portsmouth had their target reduced to 256 from 48 overs.
James Mitchell was the 2nd Portsmouth wicket to fall – caught by Woodhouse off the bowling of Wells for 15. There then followed a 3rd wicket partnership of 114 between Jack Marston and Minhaj Jallil, which ended with Woodhouse taking his 3rd catch – dismissing Marston for 55.
Jallil was the next wicket to fall – trapped lbw by Namish Verma for 68. Daniel Wimble was the 5th Portsmouth batsman to be dismissed – caught by Thimodya off the bowling of Mew for 35.
Sujeeth Daini (57) and Joseph Kooner-Evans (7) then steered Portsmouth to victory with 2 overs to spare.
Ventnor 260/9 Portsmouth 256/5 Portsmouth won by 5 wickets
Right. Ventnor Cricket Club. We know you’re the best, so believe it. Say to yourselves every morning, “We are the best. We WILL win the next match.” And you will. You are outstanding, you we all know it.