Ventnor’s Zeph Wells routed British Gas Southern League rivals Sarisbury Athletic with amazing bowling figures of 8-37 – no mean feat for a 14-year old schoolboy !
Zeph, left who goes to school in Newport, was playing only his third competitive adult game for Ventnor, having cut his teeth with the Steephill club several seasons ago in the Under-13 team.
Coming on second change, he dismantled the Sarisbury batting order, having five batsmen caught and another three bowled as the mainland side was dismissed for 185.
“He bowled consistently good areas and made the batters make mistakes on a slow wicket,” praised Ventnor skipper Rob Snell.
Ventnor raced to an eight-wicket win on the back of a blistering century by South African Schaughn van Greunen, from the Bellville club in Cape Town, who smashed 11 huge sixes in his 123 not out.
Wells’ potential has already caught the eye of former England analyst and Level 4 coach Mark Garaway.
“Zeph stood out as having an extra yard of pace and reacted well to a session plan we did which was designed to assess quick thinking and adaptability as we shifted from T20 cricket to 3 day cricket and back again on a repeated basis.
“For someone so young to connect to that practice as well as he did demonstrated an adaptability and set of skills which were impressive.”
Wells is working with James Tomlinson at Hampshire on the Emerging Players Programme besides involvement on the Island at Ventnor.
Zeph, left who goes to school in Newport, was playing only his third competitive adult game for Ventnor, having cut his teeth with the Steephill club several seasons ago in the Under-13 team.
Coming on second change, he dismantled the Sarisbury batting order, having five batsmen caught and another three bowled as the mainland side was dismissed for 185.
“He bowled consistently good areas and made the batters make mistakes on a slow wicket,” praised Ventnor skipper Rob Snell.
Ventnor raced to an eight-wicket win on the back of a blistering century by South African Schaughn van Greunen, from the Bellville club in Cape Town, who smashed 11 huge sixes in his 123 not out.
Wells’ potential has already caught the eye of former England analyst and Level 4 coach Mark Garaway.
“Zeph stood out as having an extra yard of pace and reacted well to a session plan we did which was designed to assess quick thinking and adaptability as we shifted from T20 cricket to 3 day cricket and back again on a repeated basis.
“For someone so young to connect to that practice as well as he did demonstrated an adaptability and set of skills which were impressive.”
Wells is working with James Tomlinson at Hampshire on the Emerging Players Programme besides involvement on the Island at Ventnor.
