In-form Ventnor clinched a 5th successive Southern Premier League victory on Saturday after a dramatic finish to their clash with Totton & Eling at Steephill.
In pursuit of a target of 244 from 50 overs, Ventnor were probably second favourites when their 9th wicket fell with 30 runs still required. It was number eight George Watts, though, with a heroic, unbeaten knock of 45 who was the hosts match winner. With last man Ollie Morgan (9 not out) for company, the pair ran four singles from the final over to snatch a terrific win.
Watts had come to the wicket after a fine partnership of 70 between Dineth Thimodya and Henry Edwards had been broken. The Sri Lankan hit five sixes in an 89 ball 78 while right hander Edwards struck seven fours and two sixes in his innings of 44. Will Mew made 20.
The away side’s 243-7 was underpinned by an impressive 103 not out from Joe Baker while Thimodya with 3-38 and Watts 2-44 were the pick of the Ventnor attack.
This latest win lifted Ben Woodhouse’s side up to second place in the Division One table, ahead of a visit to league leaders Sarisbury Athletic on Saturday.
CALLOWAY HITS 73 BUT VENTNOR LOSE AT WINTON
In the Hampshire League, Hugh Calloway struck seven fours and three sixes in a fluent innings of 73 while Ben Attrill (25) and Toby Noyes (31) helped to lift the Ventnor II score to 230-9 from 45 overs at Winton on Saturday.
A destructive opening spell from leading wicket taker Ethan Short had the home team in trouble at 14-3 before 86 from Nineham led a recovery and an eventual 3 wicket win with more than 10 overs to spare.
Defeat leaves Ben Davies’s side in 4th place in Division 2B with four matches to play.
Bramshaw are the visitors to Steephill on Saturday for a 13:00 start.
10 WICKET WIN FOR VENTNOR’S 4TH TEAM OVER SHANKLIN & GODSHILL III
In Island League Division 2, Adam Goulding hammered 10 fours and a six in his 57 while Jess Glover made 28 as Ventnor’s fourth team convincingly beat Shanklin & Godshill III by 10 wickets at Arreton on Saturday.
Shanklin & Godshill could only manage 109, with David Paul, Matteo Burgess and Wilf Sutton each taking 2 wickets for Ventnor.
On Saturday, the 4th team take on Newport II while the 3rd team face Wight Whizzers.
