By Isle of Wight Observer
Table-topping Shanklin & Godshill clinched promotion from Hants Division Three B. Tom Quaife hit a crucial six with only 3 balls of the match left, Ventnor’s Archie Lucy claimed 5 wickets, Ryde’s Ash Goldsmith took 4, with Freshwater’s Graham Gosden hitting a century.
Southern Premier and Hampshire Leagues
In Southern Premier Division One, 2nd-placed Ventnor lost by 19 runs away at 3rd-placed Hambledon, despite Archie Lucy taking 5-24, to help bowl out Hambledon for 125 in the 42nd over. The Islanders lost a steady stream of wickets, with Dan Cox and Will Mew top-scoring with 17 each. They were disappointed to be all out for 106 in the 25th over.
Hampshire Division Two B saw the all-Island clash between Ventnor II and Ryde at Steephill end in a 22-run victory for Ryde. Ryde batted first to score 214-8 off 45 overs, founded on an opening 70-run partnership between Ash Goldsmith (33) and Ian Hailes (21), followed by Jack Summers and Jacob Palin both adding 23. Devon Pollard took 3-31 for Ventnor.
In reply, all-rounder Goldsmith claimed 4-38 to help bowl Ventnor out for 192 in the 44th over of the run-chase. Scores from Martin Blackman (32) and Toby Noyes (35) were not enough to prevent a well-deserved win for Ryde, now eighth in the division.
Shanklin & Godshill won a high scoring match at Westhill, beating 3rd-placed Locks Heath by 2 wickets. With the visitors electing to bat first, they were bowled out in the 43rd over for 207, with 3 wickets for skipper Ben White who was also responsible for a run-out, and 2 apiece for Matt Lambourne and Tom Quaife.
In reply, Shanklin lost early wickets to reach 21-2, but a solid 46 from George Niemiec, followed by a match-winning unbeaten knock of 45 from all-rounder Tom Quaife including a match-winning six in the final over saw Shanklin maintain early momentum to take 24 points and guarantee promotion, with the final match at home to Kerala.
Island Leagues
Freshwater won by 39 runs away at Northwood II in Division Two. The West Wight side hit 222-5 off 35 overs including a spectacular unbeaten 106 from Graham Gosden, enjoying 50+ partnerships with Gary Freeston (30) and Owen Hooper (39), with Nigel Russell taking 2 wickets.
For Northwood, opener Nick Stafford struck a solid 52, followed by George Griffith’s 57. However, the team couldn’t keep to the run-rate and they reached 183-9 off their 35 overs, with Sam Vandecasteele returning figures of 3-28 as Freshwater claimed the points.
Newport II XI won by 27 runs away at Ventnor IV, with Swagath Chanila Ramachandra’s 57 contributing to Newport’s total of 247-5. In reply, the Ventnor opener hit 10 boundaries in a score of 62, with skipper Alistair Cotton (36) and tailender Gary Legg (25) unable to avoid being bowled out for 220 in the 33rd over, including 3-29 from Chris Howles.