At Steephill on Saturday, Ventnor pulled off a fine win over top of the table Havant in Division 1 of the Southern Premier League.
In a match of twists and turns, the home team kept their nerve to clinch a hard-earned victory by 13 runs.
Batting first, the home team suffered an early setback after Dineth Thimodya was dismissed cheaply. With further dismissals reducing them to 114-6 and then 135-8 (Josh Carpenter 21, Hugh Calloway 31), a patient half century from Dan Cox proved crucial, together with late order contributions from Charlie Calloway (2 sixes in 21 ball 28) and James Cheek (21) which saw the hosts recover to reach 181 from 49.4 overs.
After George Watts had made an early breakthrough for Ventnor, the experienced Havant batting line-up struggled in the face of an excellent bowling display. Thimodya, Cox and Charlie Calloway were amongst the wickets as the visitors sank to 100-7 before a partnership of 50 between Hayward and Turner put them back in the hunt.
With 30 runs needed from the remaining five overs, Archie Lucy returned to the attack to dismiss both Hayward and Turner, paving the way for Thimodya to take the final wicket and clinch a terrific win, courtesy of a catch behind by skipper and wicketkeeper Ben Woodhouse.
The club wish to thank Jonathan and Sandra Snell for their match sponsorship.
The side travel to bottom placed Waterlooville on Saturday.
COOPER, BLACKMAN AND SHORT LEAD VENTNOR TO ANOTHER WIN
The double header between Ventnor and Havant Cricket Clubs saw the second teams meet at Havant Park in the Hampshire League on Saturday.
And it was Ben Davies’s Ventnor, setting the pace at the top of Division 2B, who won in ultimately comfortable fashion by 6 wickets.
Aussie Eathan Short was the visitors’ stand out bowler, taking a Ventnor best 6-42 from eight excellent overs. From 126-2 and seemingly set for a big score, the hosts were rushed out for 191 in only 31.2 overs, Kevin Cooper supporting Short with 3-17.
The quick scoring theme continued as Ventnor replied and after the early loss Davies and Ben Attrill, a century partnership between Cooper and Martin Blackman took their team to 138-3 from only 19 overs.
Right hander Cooper smashed seven fours and three sixes in an eye catching 45 ball 64, while Blackman struck a typically authoritative 51 not out to lead the league leaders to 196-4 and victory inside 29 overs.
Third placed Cadnam are the opponents at Steephill on Saturday. The match starts at 13:00.
CUP DEFEAT FOR GALLANT THIRD TEAM
A Ventnor third team including 6 teenagers put in a strong performance before losing by 32 runs to Newport’s first eleven in a Senior Cup group game at Brading on Saturday.
After Jackson Parker (3-25), Sam Blaize (1-22) and Toby Morgan (1-25) had made in-roads, Tom Dye with a fluent 75, Adam Wilson (42) and Max Poynter (37) led a Newport recovery to 244-9 from 40 overs. Midhun Devassy (3-54) was also among the wickets for Ventnor.
The hosts were given a decent start by Tom Noyes (20) and Ben Fry (15), but despite the efforts of Souvik Sanyal (43), skipper Gary Legg (44) and newcomer Ollie Watt (32 not out) were bowled out for 212, Aaron Hartup taking 4-26 for Newport.
The side return to Island League Division 1 action on Saturday with a match against Northwood’s first team.
FOURTH TEAM WIN IN LEAGUE AT ARRETON
Ventnor’s fourth team ran out winners by five wickets in Saturday’s Island League Division 2 clash with Arreton.
Louis Vanassche (41), Martyn Richards (40) and Peter McClelland (46) top scored for the hosts in their total of 204-7 (Nick Dobson 3-16), a target Ventnor reached with four overs remaining.
Opener Jess Glover was again in fine form, making unbeaten 77, while skipper Dobson lent support with 45.
MIDWEEK 100 WIN FOR VENTNOR
Chasing a modest Arreton score of 114 (Stuart Chatfield 3-18, Stephen Borman 2-8), Ventnor won by eight wickets with 25 deliveries remaining, Ethan Short with 54 (six fours and three sixes) and Charles Andrew (36) the main contributors.
77 RUN T20 LOSS AT CROSS
A powerful St Cross Symondians side defeated an under-strength Ventnor team by 77 runs in the Southern League T20 at the Green Jackets ground in Winchester on Sunday.
In pursuit of a daunting total of 270-4, Dan Cox with an impressive 69, Josh Carpenter (46), Dineth Thimodya (29) and Jack Powell (28) gave it their best shot before the innings closed on 193-5.
