Isle of Wight's Newport and Ventnor clash in Newclose cup final

On Saturday, July 29, Newport won the toss and elected to bat first.

They started steadily, but some fine bowling from Oscar Purser (2-33) limited the run rate.

Eight overs in and the breakthrough came, with Olly Pease (5) being caught and bowled off by Purser.

Ventnor's Toby Morgan dismissing Newport's Kai Barnes. (Image: Newport Cricket Club)

Newport accelerated the run rate, with class batting from Paul Attrill (39), Louis Payne (27) and Ryan Young (26).  

Akshay Harikumar (3-47) and Toby Morgan (2-21) left Newport on 123-4 with 11 overs to go.

After some adept batting from Steven Steinmetz (46) and Bertie Adkins (35 not out), they finished their 35 overs on 211 for seven wickets.

Newport's Ryan Young bowling at Ventnor's Akshay Harikumar with Newport's wicketkeeper Ryan Donald behind the stumps. (Image: Newport Cricket Club)

Newport's innings required Ventnor to get 212 runs off their 35 overs.

The two opening Ventnor batsman, Freddie Purser (7) and Nick Dobson (1), struggled to get off the mark; Max Poynter (2-3) and Louis Payne (2-19) taking scalps.

After a spectacular one-handed catch from Steven Steinmetz, Ventnor built up a strong partnership of 87 runs between Mark Price (43) and Akshay Harikumar (62).

But Newport eventually broke that partnership after a fantastic delivery from Steinmetz dismissed Price.

The Newport II squad after winning the match, with captain James Hayden holding the trophy. (Image: Newport Cricket Club)

With the match hanging in the balance for a few overs, it swung in Newport's favour when Steinmetz (2-29) took a second jumping catch to dismiss Akshay Harikumar off the bowling of Olly Pease (3-30). 

Quality bowling from Louis Payne, Olly Pease and John Godwin resulted in Ventnor being all out for 150.

A 61-run victory for Newport saw them lift the trophy. 

Two stand out man of the match performances, as voted by the two captains, went to Newport's Steinmetz and Ventnor's Harikumar.