By Isle of Wight Observer
Tom Quaife’s 6-wicket Shanklin haul led the way on a bowlers’ weekend, with Julion Jayerajah taking 5 for Ryde, and Ventnor’s Dineth Thimodya 4 wickets. There was 141 not out from Ventnor veteran, Mark Price, 138 from St Helen’s Marc Allen, with Porchfield centuries for Toby Corbin and Tom Wells, and a last over win for Ventnor IV.
Premier and Hampshire Leagues
After heavy overnight rain, Ventnor lost by 3 wickets away at Fair Oak in Southern Premier Division One. They were asked to bat first and struggled to reach 65-6. Josh Carpenter (20), Dan Cox (21) and Henry Edwards (20) were unable to build on solid starts, but the 80-run partnership between Hugh Calloway (56) and George Watts (30) helped the Island side reach 181 all out.
Although Chris Russell and George Watts took early visits for Ventnor, and Dineth Thimodya returned 4-28 including a caught and bowled, Hampshire player, Fletcha Middleton scored 58 as Fair Oak secured victory with 3 overs left.
Ben Davies’ 2nd-placed Ventnor II XI continued [his/her] winning run with a 3-wicket win over Lymington II in Hampshire Division Two B.
Charlie Calloway took 3-33, Ethan Short 3-34 and Charlie Turpin 2-34, limiting the visitors to 201 all out in the 45th over. In reply, Ventnor struggled to reach 97-5, before a 70-run partnership between Ben Attrill (44 not out) and Calloway (40) saw Ventnor reach 203-7 in the 42nd over to claim their sixth victory in 7 matches, narrowing the gap with leaders, Portsmouth II.
Also in Division Two B, 3rd-placed Ryde won by 8 wickets away at Bramshaw, with the home side asked to bat first. Ryde’s Nathan Day took 4-25 and Julion Jayerajah 5-32 to restrict Bramshaw to 158 all out in the 39th over. Batting second, Ryde opener Ian Hailes was unbeaten on 49 and Jack Summers 82, sharing a 118-run partnership to secure victory in the 31st over.
In Division Three B, Shanklin & Godshill won by 7 wickets at home to Solent Rangers, bowling the visitors out for 240, with Tom Quaife claiming 6-20. In reply, 72 from opener Matt Lambourne, and 53 not out from Seb Egerton-Read, helped see Shanklin reach 242-3 in the 41st over and remain third in the table.
Island Leagues
In Division One, visitors Newport beat leaders Northwood by 23 runs, and scored 219-8 off 40 overs. This included 47 from veteran opener, Kev Winchcombe, and 52 from Ben Shannon and 4-38 for Northwood’s Kerry Rice. Northwood’s 70-run opening partnership between Gary Cooper (27) and George Griffith (31) was unable to be maintained, with Cam Beal returning 4-35 for Newport, as the home-side reached 196-8 at the close of play.
A 600+ run-fest at Arreton saw Wight Whizzers beat Ventnor III by 3 wickets, with the visitors setting a target of 319-3. Opener, Mark Price, was unbeaten on 142 and Alfie Toulson added 57. After a break, the Whizzers saw Jkp Jinu (71) and Jibin Mathew (69) keep to the run-rate, despite James Curtis claiming 3 wickets for Ventnor.
St Helens won by 142 runs away at Ryde II, with skipper and opener, Marc Allen, hitting an unbeaten 138 as the visitors reached 233-7, with Dan Parker and Guy Bonnett taking 2 wickets each. In reply, Liam Ringer (35) top scored as Ryde reached 91 all out in the 28th over.
In Division Two, Freshwater won by 110 runs at home to Arreton, with the home-side scoring 255-4 off 35 overs. This included an unbeaten 114 from Gary Freeston, Sam Van de Casteele 37 not out and sharing a 105 partnership, Graham Gosden’s 40, and Arreton’s Alastair Gates taking 2 wickets. Nicola Smallwood took 2-31 and Riley McQuillan 3-37, as Arreton struggled to reach 145-7 in their allotted overs.
Leaders, Newport II XI, won by 21 runs at home to Northwood II, with Finn Woodford (73) and Guy Wells (57) helping ‘Port score 204-8. Northwood were all out for 183 in the last over of their innings.
Ventnor IV won a last over match by 6 wickets at home to Shanklin & Godshill II, with opener Steve Egerton-Read hitting 80 for Shanklin, and Max Bushby-Harris unbeaten on 25 as Shanklin reached 191-5. Ventnor’s opener hit an unbeaten 78, and, with skipper, Nick Dobson, unbeaten on 38, Ventnor reached 192-4 and claimed the win with 4 balls left.
In the Fred Winter Cup, Porchfield won by 366 runs in the Group B home-clash with Shanklin & Godshill III, with Toby Corbin unbeaten on 188, alongside opener, Tom Wells, on 102. After the match, a Porchfield spokesman said: “Some outstanding performances from our team. However, huge congratulations and admiration needs to go to Shanklin & Godshill Cricket Club for continuing to battle throughout the whole game.
“Good luck for the rest of the season.”