ON A DAY of a return to unsettled weather, Ventnor faltered on the road again by falling to a three-wicket defeat at Rowledge in Division 1 of the Southern Premier League, on Saturday.

Electing to bat first after winning the toss, mid-table Ventnor recovered from 95-5 to post 175 from their 50 overs.

Dan Cox held the innings together with a determined 108-ball half century, with support down the order to make the Islanders' total more respectable.

George Watts (3-29) made two early breakthroughs after tea, but despite further wickets falling, Rowledge managed to reach their target with just two overs remaining.

In Division 1 of the Hampshire League, the rain-hit match between Ryde and Odiham and Greywell came down to the Island hosts chasing a revised target.

The visitors made the most of the conditions, when dry, to reach a mammoth 280-5.

Once the rain started to fall periodically, Ryde were set a very attainable revised target of 116 from 23 overs — but they fell just 12 runs short.

The Hampshire 3 (South) fixtures between Shanklin and Godshill and Gosport Borough II, and Ventnor II and Sway II.

Ventnor II, who remain top of the table, were looking set for another victory, when the game was washed out.

The Hampshire 4 (South) fixture between  Folland (Hamble) and Ryde II was also abandoned mid-way through the match.

The same fate befell the games between Newport and Ventnor II, and Northwood v Freshwater, in Division 1 of the Isle of Wight League.

In the Fred Winter Cup group stages, Ventnor IV conceded their game away at Cowes, after they posted a moderate 132-8, which saw bowlers Scott Rice (3-14) and Jason Heap (3-23) spearhead the hosts' attack.

Cowes reached 39-0 when rain prevented any further play.  

On Sunday, in improved weather conditions, Ventnor lost by just one run in their second round Southern League T20 tie at Sparsholt.

Set a score of 152, Ventnor slipped to 74-5, before a Dan Cox inspired recovery kept them in the hunt.

The all-rounder hit four sixes in a fine knock of 55, but despite his efforts, the visitors fell agonisingly short of their target, with 151-8.

On Thursday last week, in the Isle of Wight Women's League, Newport travelled to Arreton and beat them by 23 runs.

FIXTURES

SATURDAY, JULY 27

Southern Premier League, Division 1: Ventnor v Old Tauntonians and Romsey; Hampshire League, Division 1: Hythe & Dibden v Ryde; Hampshire 3 (South): Old Tauntonians & Romsey II v Ventnor II, Sway II v Shanklin & Godshill; Hampshire 4 (South): Ryde II v Langley Manor II; Isle of Wight League, Division 2: Newport II v Shanklin & Godshill III; Isle of Wight Senior Cup, group stage: Freshwater v Ventnor III, Northwood v St Helens, Shanklin & Godshill II v Newport; Fred Winter Cup, group stage: Ventnor IV v Northwood II.

TUESDAY, JULY 30

Isle of Wight Women's League: Ryde v Arreton, Ventnor v Newport.