By Isle of Wight Observer
With the cricket season, on and off the Island, starting Saturday, the pre-season Ventnor v Preston match at Steephill saw skipper, Ben Woodhouse, score 80 out of a 209-7 total. This was followed by George Watts, taking 3-13 as the home side ran out as 76-run winners.
Ventnor 2nd XI lost by 123 runs to tourists, Old Wilsonians, at Arreton. In response to the visitors’ 253, Ventnor was restricted to 130-8, and captain, Ben Davies, made an undefeated 52.
A splendid innings of 103 from Dan Cox and 66 from the returning Dineth Thimodya enabled Ventnor to post 250 against Norfolk visitors, Bircham, on Sunday. Harrison McQuillan produced an excellent spell of 5-24 for the hosts but, despite an impressive 111 from Liam Crompton, the tourists fell 32 runs short of victory.
Tomorrow, Ventnor welcome Waterlooville in the Premier League (12.30), Ryde travel to Burridge, and Ventnor II visit Cadnam in Hampshire Division Two B, and Shanklin & Godshill are home to Portsmouth & Southsea in Division Three B (1pm).
On the Island, in Division One, Ventnor III face Ryde II (1pm at Brading), and in Division Two, Arreton are home to Shanklin & Godshill II, Newport II welcome Freshwater at Newclose, and Northwood II are home to Ventnor IV.