VENTNOR believe they have finally found their spark as they attempt to de-rail Havant.
The Islanders appeared to be rooted to the bottom of the Southern Electric premier division but ended a dire run of six straight defeats with a much-needed win over Lymington last weekend, writes Steve Wilson of The News.
Ventnor’s Adam Wilson grabbed a remarkable six wickets for 10 as Lymington were skittled for just 87 – who did the same to Havant the week before as they were bowled out for a paltry 50.
In theory, those results should point towards a Ventnor win, but Havant will be firm favourites.
Ventnor skipper Mark Holmes, however, insists his team is improving.
He said: ‘It was a big relief to get that win last week. Now it’s up to us to get a few more wins and get off the bottom.
‘We haven’t had the size of squad this year and the lads coming through are not quite old enough or mature enough.
‘They will be in the future, but it’s a big ask at the moment.
‘I always knew I had players coming back in June so I thought things would start turning around for us.
‘Havant got bowled out for 50 two weeks ago so it goes to show that any side can beat any other team.
‘Lymington beat Havant, then we beat Lymington so hopefully we can can beat Havant now.’
But Havant’s batting line-up has been strengthened with the return of Rob Gibson from university and their pitch is usually more suited to their spinners.
Player-coach Pete Hopson said: ‘Gibbo batted on a different planet last week.
‘He has not really been in much form but he got 80-odd and crunched everything.
‘He’s back for the majority of the season now and opening the batting with him, we put on 99 for the first wicket and I was on 11!
‘When someone is playing like that, you give him the strike and I was quite happy to let him get on with it.
‘It’s great to have him back and we are likely to have Andy Gorvin back soon as well so we will have some real selection issues.
‘Tom Friend and Jake George are back for them and they are very good players so we will not be taking them lightly.’
Simon Watkins is back to skipper Bashley (Rydal), whose bid for a top three Southern Electric Premier Division standing took a knock with a crushing defeat at Havant last week.
Watkins takes over the captaincy reins from Michael Porter, who will be able to concentre on his batting when Burridge visit the BCG, 11.30.
Bashley were rolled over for 111 by Havant’s spinners last week, so the return of James Morris – to replace the unavailable Luke Webb – is a timely boost for their batting.
Jake Lilley will be looking for a quiet day in the bowling department to he can ‘rest up’ for his Dorset Minor Counties Championship debut against Cheshire on Sunday.
Watkins is expected to employ Tom Andrews and Sam Thomson for long spin bowling sessions.
Bashley edged a dramatic one-wicket win over Sarisbury Athletic last week to secure a third win.
They achieved the victory without Joe Gatting, who is in the Hampshire team to play Glamorgan in the NatWest t20 Blast at the Ageas Bowl tonight.
Bashley (Rydal): Watkins, Porter, Baker, J Morris, Andrews, R Morris, Jacques, C Ridley, Thomson, Lilley, Nash.
A run of five successive defeats has sent Sarisbury Athletic sliding into serious relegation trouble in their debut season in Southern Electric Premier Division cricket.
Captain Matt Journeaux, who has replaced Dave Banks at the helm, shuffled the batting order against Burridge last week and brought Ryan Burl back into form.
The Zimbabwe A all-rounder made 70 and took six wickets in a lengthy spin bowling spell.
But Burridge still stole away with a dramatic one-wicket win off the first ball of the final over.
Journeaux looks for the positives to take from the close Burridge defeat against Alton, whose three-match winning Time pennant record ended in emphatic style with a crushing defeat at South Wilts last week.
Alton have Robbie Heywood back from university, while Sarisbury are unchanged.
Alton: S Myers, Hammond, Heywood, J Myers, Heffernan, Janmohammed, Alexander, Scott, Mortimer, Salmon, Ballinger.
Sarisbury Athletic: Journeaux, Rawlins, Banks, Covey, Akram, Burl, Norris, Lovett, Goldstraw, Ingram, Jewell.
Lymington have Hampshire's Lewis McManus and teenager Felix Ambrose back as they look to wipe out the memory of last week's batting hiccup on the Isle of Wight.
Ventnor rolled them out for 85 before lunch - in total contrast to events seven days prior to that when Lymington themselves skittled Havant for 50.
Lymington were undone by Adam Wilson's swing bowling at Newclose and skipper Simon Beetham will look for a more circumspect approach from his players when St Cross Symondians pitch up at the Sports Ground.
St Cross have gone win/lose throughout their nine-match programme, with skipper Richard Taylor eager for some consistency in the ranks.
Lymington: Ben Rogers; Dom Hand; Ryan Scott; Lewis McManus; Felix Ambrose; Ed Ellis; Simon Beetham; Matt Metcalfe; Ben Ashkenazi; Chris Jennings; Cameron Robertson
The Islanders appeared to be rooted to the bottom of the Southern Electric premier division but ended a dire run of six straight defeats with a much-needed win over Lymington last weekend, writes Steve Wilson of The News.
Ventnor’s Adam Wilson grabbed a remarkable six wickets for 10 as Lymington were skittled for just 87 – who did the same to Havant the week before as they were bowled out for a paltry 50.
In theory, those results should point towards a Ventnor win, but Havant will be firm favourites.
Ventnor skipper Mark Holmes, however, insists his team is improving.
He said: ‘It was a big relief to get that win last week. Now it’s up to us to get a few more wins and get off the bottom.
‘We haven’t had the size of squad this year and the lads coming through are not quite old enough or mature enough.
‘They will be in the future, but it’s a big ask at the moment.
‘I always knew I had players coming back in June so I thought things would start turning around for us.
‘Havant got bowled out for 50 two weeks ago so it goes to show that any side can beat any other team.
‘Lymington beat Havant, then we beat Lymington so hopefully we can can beat Havant now.’
But Havant’s batting line-up has been strengthened with the return of Rob Gibson from university and their pitch is usually more suited to their spinners.
Player-coach Pete Hopson said: ‘Gibbo batted on a different planet last week.
‘He has not really been in much form but he got 80-odd and crunched everything.
‘He’s back for the majority of the season now and opening the batting with him, we put on 99 for the first wicket and I was on 11!
‘When someone is playing like that, you give him the strike and I was quite happy to let him get on with it.
‘It’s great to have him back and we are likely to have Andy Gorvin back soon as well so we will have some real selection issues.
‘Tom Friend and Jake George are back for them and they are very good players so we will not be taking them lightly.’
Simon Watkins is back to skipper Bashley (Rydal), whose bid for a top three Southern Electric Premier Division standing took a knock with a crushing defeat at Havant last week.
Watkins takes over the captaincy reins from Michael Porter, who will be able to concentre on his batting when Burridge visit the BCG, 11.30.
Bashley were rolled over for 111 by Havant’s spinners last week, so the return of James Morris – to replace the unavailable Luke Webb – is a timely boost for their batting.
Jake Lilley will be looking for a quiet day in the bowling department to he can ‘rest up’ for his Dorset Minor Counties Championship debut against Cheshire on Sunday.
Watkins is expected to employ Tom Andrews and Sam Thomson for long spin bowling sessions.
Bashley edged a dramatic one-wicket win over Sarisbury Athletic last week to secure a third win.
They achieved the victory without Joe Gatting, who is in the Hampshire team to play Glamorgan in the NatWest t20 Blast at the Ageas Bowl tonight.
Bashley (Rydal): Watkins, Porter, Baker, J Morris, Andrews, R Morris, Jacques, C Ridley, Thomson, Lilley, Nash.
A run of five successive defeats has sent Sarisbury Athletic sliding into serious relegation trouble in their debut season in Southern Electric Premier Division cricket.
Captain Matt Journeaux, who has replaced Dave Banks at the helm, shuffled the batting order against Burridge last week and brought Ryan Burl back into form.
The Zimbabwe A all-rounder made 70 and took six wickets in a lengthy spin bowling spell.
But Burridge still stole away with a dramatic one-wicket win off the first ball of the final over.
Journeaux looks for the positives to take from the close Burridge defeat against Alton, whose three-match winning Time pennant record ended in emphatic style with a crushing defeat at South Wilts last week.
Alton have Robbie Heywood back from university, while Sarisbury are unchanged.
Alton: S Myers, Hammond, Heywood, J Myers, Heffernan, Janmohammed, Alexander, Scott, Mortimer, Salmon, Ballinger.
Sarisbury Athletic: Journeaux, Rawlins, Banks, Covey, Akram, Burl, Norris, Lovett, Goldstraw, Ingram, Jewell.
Lymington have Hampshire's Lewis McManus and teenager Felix Ambrose back as they look to wipe out the memory of last week's batting hiccup on the Isle of Wight.
Ventnor rolled them out for 85 before lunch - in total contrast to events seven days prior to that when Lymington themselves skittled Havant for 50.
Lymington were undone by Adam Wilson's swing bowling at Newclose and skipper Simon Beetham will look for a more circumspect approach from his players when St Cross Symondians pitch up at the Sports Ground.
St Cross have gone win/lose throughout their nine-match programme, with skipper Richard Taylor eager for some consistency in the ranks.
Lymington: Ben Rogers; Dom Hand; Ryan Scott; Lewis McManus; Felix Ambrose; Ed Ellis; Simon Beetham; Matt Metcalfe; Ben Ashkenazi; Chris Jennings; Cameron Robertson