VENTNOR and Ryde's first teams are still frustratingly yet to get their seasons underway, but Shanklin and Godshill and Ventnor seconds got theirs off to a flyer.
In Hampshire 3 (South), Shanklin won the toss and put Portsmouth and Southsea into bat at Westhill on Saturday — a decision which proved to be the right one.
Skittling Portsmouth for a paltry 56 all out after 25.1 overs, Nathan Moore 4-10, while Harry Moore (3-13) and Jack White (2-21) also pitched in effectively.
The Islanders made light work of reaching the target, to win by nine wickets in just 8.3 overs. Jordan Langdon top scored with 39 not out.
Ventnor's debut game in the division, following their promotion last season, was equally emphatic — beating Ellingham at Steephill by the same margin.
The Islanders elected to field and bowled the visitors out for just 73 in 20.3 overs — George Watts taking 5-9, well supported by Harrison McQuillan (3-28).
Ventnor smashed their way to the target in just seven whirlwind overs, with Sam Guerin hitting 51 not out.
Meanwhile, in Division 4 (South), Ryde II got off to a great 2024 season by beating Solent by 56 runs on the road.
Ryde, out into bat, managed to amass a respectable 178-5 on a slow pitch at Solent Rangers, after being put into bat.
The Rangers were bowled out for a meagre 122, with Nathan Day (3-15) and Tom Durman (3-17) spearheading the bowling attack for Ryde.
In the second round of the Voneus Village Cup, on Sunday, Ventnor's Henry Bartlett and Dan Cox produced outstanding performances to help beat Sarisbury Athletic at Steephill.
Bartlett made a fine unbeaten 88, with five sixes and four boundaries, while and Cox was undefeated with 50 on the way to an emphatic nine-wicket success.
Earlier, off-spinners Bartlett (2-30) and Cox (3-35) had also impressed with the ball, to restrict the visitors to 165-8.
The Island League got underway too on Saturday.
In Division 1, St Helens took the big scalp of Northwood at The Green, winning by three wickets.
St Helens wicketkeeper, Deans, hit an unbeaten 77, while Rob Holdcroft took 4-25.
Ventnor III beat Freshwater by six wickets at Arreton, after being set a revised target due to the weather. Manu Latha Mohan was the pick of the Ventnor bowlers, returning 4-16.
In Division 2, Northwood II beat Ventnor's fourth team six wickets after bowling them out for just 123.
Northwood's Neil Redmond grabbed 4-15 in his impressive bowling spell.
Newport hammered Shanklin and Godshill by 172 runs at Smallbrook.
House Rules
We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate.
Read the rules here