Ventnor's Ross Whyte goes big [Dave Reynolds]
A run of six wins in seven, interrupted only by Liphook & Ripsley’s victory at Steephill last month, has lifted Ventnor into fourth place in Southern Premier Division 2 – and to within touching distance of the East Hampshire club, who lie second behind Hartley Wintney.
Talk of promotion is taboo in Ben Woodhouse’s camp, but with the two lead clubs plus OTs & Romsey still to play, there’s little doubt Ventnor could feature strongly in the coming weeks, none more so than in rounds 14 and 15.
That’s when they face OTs & Romsey and visit Hartley Wintney, with a visit to Liphook scheduled for the penultimate game. Exciting times. Potentially.
At the opposite end of the scale, Ventnor’s 54-run win compounded Fawley’s situation at the bottom, where surprise wins by Bashley (Rydal) and South Wilts seconds have left the Holbury side lagging behind.
Bajan left-hander Anthony Alleyne (51) and Rob Snell (30) laid the foundations for Ventnor’s 211-7 against Fawley and set a platform for Ross Whyte to smack a run-a-ball 69 (one six/eight fours) before Zeph Wells had the pensioners in the adjoining botanical gardens diving for cover with three maximums in his 34 not out.
Three down for 13 and later 68-7, Fawley were never at the races after Snell’s new-ball spell – the mainland based singer/song writer (speciality Cat Stevens cover versions) taking 4-21 - and it was only thanks to Bailey Parratt (45) and Adam Freeman (28) that the visitors made it to 157-9. Woodhouse, with arguably the safest hands on the island, gloved four catches behind the sticks.
Talk of promotion is taboo in Ben Woodhouse’s camp, but with the two lead clubs plus OTs & Romsey still to play, there’s little doubt Ventnor could feature strongly in the coming weeks, none more so than in rounds 14 and 15.
That’s when they face OTs & Romsey and visit Hartley Wintney, with a visit to Liphook scheduled for the penultimate game. Exciting times. Potentially.
At the opposite end of the scale, Ventnor’s 54-run win compounded Fawley’s situation at the bottom, where surprise wins by Bashley (Rydal) and South Wilts seconds have left the Holbury side lagging behind.
Bajan left-hander Anthony Alleyne (51) and Rob Snell (30) laid the foundations for Ventnor’s 211-7 against Fawley and set a platform for Ross Whyte to smack a run-a-ball 69 (one six/eight fours) before Zeph Wells had the pensioners in the adjoining botanical gardens diving for cover with three maximums in his 34 not out.
Three down for 13 and later 68-7, Fawley were never at the races after Snell’s new-ball spell – the mainland based singer/song writer (speciality Cat Stevens cover versions) taking 4-21 - and it was only thanks to Bailey Parratt (45) and Adam Freeman (28) that the visitors made it to 157-9. Woodhouse, with arguably the safest hands on the island, gloved four catches behind the sticks.
Ben Woodhouse's Safe Hands policy - he gloved four Fawley batsmen.
 Zeph Wells hit a four through cover |  Rob Snell pouches a straightforward return catch to dismiss Fawley's Sean Williams. |
