Martin Blackman and Sri Lankan Dineth Thimodya hit half-centuries and Hugh Calloway made an important middle-order contribution as Ventnor snatched a dramatic penultimate ball victory against Sarisbury Athletic in a Steephill run fest.
The 486-run Southern Premier Division 1 thriller went to the wire with depleted Sarisbury grimly defending their 245-6 until the bitter end.
Ventnor's fourth win in six kept the islanders to within three points of leaders Rowledge ahead of Saturday's top two duel at Church Road.
Josh Hill (58) made a half-century at the top of the innings and enjoyed handy support from debutant Jack Robson (28), but with wickets falling Sarisbury were never in a position to dictate the terms during the afternoon session.
Indeed, they needed a key 40 from Jordan Wright in the latter stages to get them to 241 (Hugh Calloway 3-28).
Thimodya (52) led the way for Ventnor with a breezy half-century and with the in-form Blackman (60) taking his season's tally to 291, the Steephill mob, at 182-3, looked as though they might cruise home.
Calloway (44) had joined Blackman in a key partnership, but two wicket spells by Jacob Harris and Tom Kitcher ensured Ventnor didn't get away and, in the end, it needed Ross Whyte (21) and Ben Woodhouse to keep their heads and get them across the line at 245-6 with one ball to spare - Woodhouse hitting a boundary to seal it.
The 486-run Southern Premier Division 1 thriller went to the wire with depleted Sarisbury grimly defending their 245-6 until the bitter end.
Ventnor's fourth win in six kept the islanders to within three points of leaders Rowledge ahead of Saturday's top two duel at Church Road.
Josh Hill (58) made a half-century at the top of the innings and enjoyed handy support from debutant Jack Robson (28), but with wickets falling Sarisbury were never in a position to dictate the terms during the afternoon session.
Indeed, they needed a key 40 from Jordan Wright in the latter stages to get them to 241 (Hugh Calloway 3-28).
Thimodya (52) led the way for Ventnor with a breezy half-century and with the in-form Blackman (60) taking his season's tally to 291, the Steephill mob, at 182-3, looked as though they might cruise home.
Calloway (44) had joined Blackman in a key partnership, but two wicket spells by Jacob Harris and Tom Kitcher ensured Ventnor didn't get away and, in the end, it needed Ross Whyte (21) and Ben Woodhouse to keep their heads and get them across the line at 245-6 with one ball to spare - Woodhouse hitting a boundary to seal it.