THE Isle of Wight U12 Indoor League title came down to a final, deciding contest between the top two teams, with Ryde beating rivals Ventnor by two runs.

In a tense final league game at Ventnor’s Rew Valley sport centre, Ryde batted first.

Their top order was under the cosh early on and fell cheaply, with Ventnor’s Thomas Southcott (1-22) and Sam Mills (3-19) doing the damage in their opening spells.

First change bowler, Oliver Cheeseman (3-26), bowled Kensei Parker for just six runs and had Xavier Meadows caught by Mills for 13.

But Preston Draper-Oakley came to Ryde’s rescue — top scoring with 22 not out, well supported by Harry Everard, bowled by Mills for 14.

Ryde finally set Ventnor 99 to win the game from their 12 overs.

Ventnor, with Southcott and Mills at the crease, scored easily inn the early stages, until Southcott (9) was bowled by Parker (2-9).

Once Mills had retired after hitting a quickfire 25, Ryde’s bowlers took control and slowed down the run rate.

Cheeseman also reached 25 and retired, but Nathaniel Wells was bowled by Meadows (1-13) for a duck.

Alfie Toulson looked set to become a match winner for Ventnor, until Parker took his wicket for 24.

Mills returned to the crease, hitting back-to-back boundaries, putting Ventnor inn the box seat, until Davidson (1-33), took a magnificent caught and bowled from the penultimate delivery of the match.

Five runs were needed from Davidson’s last ball, but Cheeseman could only manage two, which gave Ryde a two-run victory and the Isle of Wight U12 title.

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