By Isle of Wight Observer
Current Southern Premier League champions, Hampshire Academy, overcome Ventnor by 35 runs in a pre-season friendly at Steephill.
Batting first, the visitors, managed by former Ventnor captain Charlie Freeston, won the toss and batted first, being dismissed for 226 in the 45-overs-a-side fixture. George Watts (2-23) took two early Academy wickets, with the returning Mark Holmes (4-52) and Devon Pollard (3-39) the other principal wicket takers for the Ventnor.
In reply, Dan Cox struck 7 fours and 3 sixes in a cultured knock of 85, with Hugh Calloway (21), George Watts (22) newcomer Josh Carpenter (13) and Will Mew (14), all adding support before the home team ran out of overs to close on 191-8.
Ventnor also enjoyed an inter-club 12-aside match with Ben Attrill and Kevin Cooper, who both hit half centuries for Rob Snell’s XI, who totalled 187 from their 35 overs. In reply, a side captained by Toby Noyes successfully chased the target with two overs to spare, with skipper Noyes hitting 50 and Martin Blackman (36). Ali Cotton (24 not out) and Ollie Cheesman (26 not out) saw their team home.
At Arreton, the Island welcomed Wight Whizzers who batted first and hit 337-5 in their allotted overs, with Jess Glover and skipper Josh White taking wickets. In reply, the Arreton side saw skipper Josh White top score with 38 as they lost by 199 runs.
Indoor League Finale
Island Bakeries and Wight Whizzers, in their first season were crowned champions of the First and Third Divisions respectively, two weeks after Ventnor B were confirmed as winners of Division Two.
In the climax to the indoor season Island Bakeries overcame Newport to top the table, by 1 point, with Guy Wells (31), Ellis Ridett (28*) and Nick Stafford (28*) enabling a 3-wicket win.
In Division Three, Wight Whizzers hit a stunning 210-5 from their 12 overs, with Manu (41*), Arjun (40), Malin Rajendran (34), Midhun Devassy (30) and Jinu KP (27) all retiring, despite figures of 4-30 from IW Women’s Alex Barton. Alex Barton and Jess Glover both made 25* in reply, but IW Women finished on 121-2 to give Wight Whizzers the win and the Division Three title in their first season of competition.
The Junior Indoor Cups saw Cowes U-14s and Ventnor U-12s end their indoor seasons on a high after finishing as cup winners in their respective competitions.