THE cricket season on the Isle of Wight may have got off to the worst possible start as rain stopped all play on Saturday, but at least home-grown talents Adam Hose and Danny Briggs got some County Championship experience in their first matches — and successes.

Making his debut for Worcestershire against Sussex in the eventually rained-off Division 2 match in the LV County Championship, Hose produced two impressive knocks.

He hit 59 in the first innings, bowled by Henry Crocombe, powering nine boundaries in it, then he hit 41 in the second innings, LBW to England pace bowler Ollie Robinson.
The match was drawn.

Briggs, Hose's team-mate last season — both of them former Ventnor Cricket Club stars — was in action for Warwickshire against his former employers, Hampshire, at the Ageas Bowl, in Division 1.

In his first outing of the campaign, the Islander helped his side to a Warwickshire win, by an innings and 84 runs.

He returned figures of 44-0, caught Ian Holland and scored 13 not out in the first innings, followed by 1-0 from his nine deliveries in the second — his wicket ending the match in victory for the Bears.

Tomorrow (Thursday), Briggs will be in action for Warwickshire against Essex, at Edgbaston, while Hose will aim to continue his great batting form against Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.