Alex Glendenning (Roy Honeybone) James Hayward lavished Ventnor for their ‘positive, no fear’ attitude after South Wilts’ rekindled their spluttering ECB Southern Premier League championship drive with a 25-run win over the islanders at Bemerton.
Despite not winning for a calendar month – a unique statistic in recent South Wilts history – Hayward’s side were expected to steamroller Ventnor, who had lost all previous seven matches and regard relegation as a forgone conclusion.
“But it didn’t turn out quite like that,” said Hayward, who kept the game open after South Wilts had posted a decent 274-5.
“We didn’t want them losing early wickets – which they did – and blocking it out, so we kept the game open and when Alex Glendenning, their Aussie, and Rob Snell were together they were very much in the game.”
The Ventnor pair certainly put bat to ball during their 154-run stand, which began after James Hibberd (4-31) ad reduced the visitors to 12-2.
Between them they smashed ten sixes and 21 fours – and at 164-2 were in the driving seat, with Glendenning (90) and Snell (71) giving their side a sniff of unexpected success.
But when Stephen Booth (4-59) trapped the Sydney all-rounder leg before, Ventnor’s challenge subsided.
Snell battled on with support from Mark Holmes (29) and Ross Whyte (25), but Booth and Hibberd went on to take four wickets each and Ventnor slide to a creditable 249 all out.
Earlier, Jack Mynott (79) produced a good pre-lunch knock, while Joe Cranch (69) illuminated the afternoon session with a boundary-strewn stay at the crease.
Rob Franklin (36) and Hibberd (25) plundered quick runs to set up the declaration at 274-5.
Despite not winning for a calendar month – a unique statistic in recent South Wilts history – Hayward’s side were expected to steamroller Ventnor, who had lost all previous seven matches and regard relegation as a forgone conclusion.
“But it didn’t turn out quite like that,” said Hayward, who kept the game open after South Wilts had posted a decent 274-5.
“We didn’t want them losing early wickets – which they did – and blocking it out, so we kept the game open and when Alex Glendenning, their Aussie, and Rob Snell were together they were very much in the game.”
The Ventnor pair certainly put bat to ball during their 154-run stand, which began after James Hibberd (4-31) ad reduced the visitors to 12-2.
Between them they smashed ten sixes and 21 fours – and at 164-2 were in the driving seat, with Glendenning (90) and Snell (71) giving their side a sniff of unexpected success.
But when Stephen Booth (4-59) trapped the Sydney all-rounder leg before, Ventnor’s challenge subsided.
Snell battled on with support from Mark Holmes (29) and Ross Whyte (25), but Booth and Hibberd went on to take four wickets each and Ventnor slide to a creditable 249 all out.
Earlier, Jack Mynott (79) produced a good pre-lunch knock, while Joe Cranch (69) illuminated the afternoon session with a boundary-strewn stay at the crease.
Rob Franklin (36) and Hibberd (25) plundered quick runs to set up the declaration at 274-5.
