NOT only did Ventnor II and Ryde II win their Hampshire 4 (South) games on the road on Saturday, they could both boast an extraordinary individual achievement on their way to victory.
Ventnor II remain in third place following their 33-run win at Solent Rangers.
The Steephill side chalked up a mammoth 298-6, with the excellent Sam Guerin (139) hitting his second boundary-strewn ton of the season, well supported by Mark Fletcher (38).
Solent Rangers came out fighting, but thanks to Zeph Wells (3-21) and Fletcher (3-36), it restricted their run chase.
Ryde II remain in a tightly-packed mid-table after they beat the Southampton Travellers by 23 runs.
The Islanders could only post a modest 150-9, but Ryde’s effective bowling attack of Matt Webb (4-29) — who bagged a hat-trick, his first ever at any level — together with Tom Roscoe (2-2) and Mark Tuckwell and Simon Berendt (2-12), skittled their opponents out for 127.
The weather played its part as Ventnor I slipped to fifth in the table after losing to Portsmouth I by five wickets in a reduced target game at Steephill.
Ventnor, who saw their form dip in June, have now lost three of their last four Southern Premier League Division 1 matches.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Ventnor got off to a great start, putting on 108 for the first wicket — Rob Snell bowled for 60, smashing 12 boundaries along the way.
His opening partner, Dineth Thimodya, continued his excellent, consistent form with the bat this season by hitting 87 after developing another decent partnership of 63 with skipper, Ben Woodhouse (25).
Ross Whyte also weighed in with 31, as Ventnor eventually reached 260-9.
In reply, Portsmouth reached their target, reduced by a modest amount after rain, with the loss of five wickets.
Zach Wells (2-20) was the pick of the Ventnor bowling attack.
In Hampshire League, Division 1, Ryde I sank to second bottom with an unlucky one-wicket defeat — this time, at the hands of Longparish, at Harding Shute.
Ryde posted 178 all out, with opener Robert Hobbs (44) and Ben Gregory (30) top scoring for the Islanders.
With a mediocre total to defend, Ryde put in an admirable bowling performance — coming up a wicket short — with Jerin Jose (2-25), Frank Gumley (2-32) and Julion Jayerajah (2-36) spearheading their attack.
Shanklin and Godshill (199-8) slipped to their third loss in four after a four-wicket defeat at Ellingham — Benji White (46 and 2-30) their best all-round performer, in Division 3 (South).
Steve Egerton-Read also hit 40 for the Islanders.
Meanwhile, in Division 1 of the Island League, Newport comprehensively beat Cowes by a margin of 229 runs.
Newport posted a mammoth 286-5, with Ash Brett and Tom Dye joint top scoring with 75, well supported by Ryan Young with 56.
In reply, Cowes were skittled out for a paltry 57 runs, with Glenn Lovegrove, Louis Payne and Adam Wilson each grabbing three wickets.
In Division 2, Ventnor III beat Newport by five wickets.
After Newport managed a mediocre 190 all out — John Godwin top scoring with 49 — Ventnor III eased to victory, with Gary Cooper hitting 100.
THIS SATURDAY'S FIXTURES
Southern Premier League, Division 1: Calmore Sports v Ventnor; Hampshire League, Division 1: Odiham & Greywell v Ryde; Hampshire 3 (South): Shanklin & Godshill v Mudeford; Hampshire 4 (South): Ryde II v Solent Rangers; Ventnor II v Portsmouth & Southsea III; Isle of Wight Senior Cup, Division A: Freshwater v Northwood; Division B: Arreton v St Helens; Cowes v Newport.
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