South Wilts thrived on a century opening partnership, a tenth-wicket rally and a four-wicket haul by off-spinner Rob Franklin as they nailed Ventnor by 100 runs in the top versus bottom ECB Southern Electric Premier Division affair at Bemerton.
Tom Morton (68) and Eddie Abel (54) shared a 115-run start by South Wilts, which Jack Mynott (25) subsequently improved, but the promising start tended to slip away as the triple Premier Division champions dipped to 170-6.
James Hibberd (35) responded but, as Ventnor’s bowlers chipped away – Rob Snell returned 3-51 – it was left to the South Wilts lower order to show their prowess and put a commanding 272 on the board.
Franklin, Jake Foley, Steve Warner and Luke Evans (21) did their duty and effectively put the game to bed.
“It was good stuff at the end. These guys are all capable batsmen and I was confident they’d step up to the plate,” captain Morton said.
Hibberd, pictured celebrating his return catch to remove opener Tom Friend, struck an early blow, leaving Henry Bartlett (56) to hold the Ventnor reply together as South Wilts made regular inroads.
Evans and Warner each took two wickets and although four of Ventnor’s last five reached double figures, it was Franklin’s 4-26 return that closed the innings at 172, exactly 100 in arrears.
* Pictures by Roy Honeybone.
Tom Morton (68) and Eddie Abel (54) shared a 115-run start by South Wilts, which Jack Mynott (25) subsequently improved, but the promising start tended to slip away as the triple Premier Division champions dipped to 170-6.
James Hibberd (35) responded but, as Ventnor’s bowlers chipped away – Rob Snell returned 3-51 – it was left to the South Wilts lower order to show their prowess and put a commanding 272 on the board.
Franklin, Jake Foley, Steve Warner and Luke Evans (21) did their duty and effectively put the game to bed.
“It was good stuff at the end. These guys are all capable batsmen and I was confident they’d step up to the plate,” captain Morton said.
Hibberd, pictured celebrating his return catch to remove opener Tom Friend, struck an early blow, leaving Henry Bartlett (56) to hold the Ventnor reply together as South Wilts made regular inroads.
Evans and Warner each took two wickets and although four of Ventnor’s last five reached double figures, it was Franklin’s 4-26 return that closed the innings at 172, exactly 100 in arrears.
* Pictures by Roy Honeybone.