Basingstoke suffer epic collapse as Ventnor win by 9 wickets

They plunged from a seemingly comfortable 51-1 to 65 all out – 16-year-old Will Mew removing the entire Basingstoke middle-order in a 5.1 over spell in which he took five wickets for seven runs.

Basingstoke’s meagre total was brushed aside inside ten overs, Sri Lankan left-hander Dineth Thimodya hitting 40 not out.

Despite losing Matt Deadman early on, Basingstoke appeared to be progressing nicely through Ash Neal (29) and opener Richard Vinn.

But when Charlie Calloway (2-10) trapped both batsmen leg before wicket, Basingstoke simply caved in, with undisciplined batting the route of the problem.

They lost four wickets in quick succession at 52, 53, 54 and 57 with teenager Mew dismissing Joe Oates, Brad Neal, Dean Nurse and Neil Shelar, the latter falling to a stunning slip catch by Chris Russell.

The last four Basingstoke wickets fell at 65, the innings lasting just 23.1 overs.

Brad Neal did at least manage to take a wicket for Basingstoke, bowling Rob Snell with his fourth ball.

But that was the visitors’ solitary crumb of comfort from a long and expensive trip to the Isle of Wight which began soon after breakfast.

Ventnor wasted little time in polishing off the target, hitting 50 of the 69 runs they required in boundaries, Thimodya clearing the boundary rope three times, alongside hitting five other fours in his 40 not out.

Basingstoke seconds did at least bring some joy to the May’s Bounty scene with a six-wicket win over Purbrook in the Division 3 basement showdown.

Chris Chandler took 3-21 as Purbrook were dismissed for 152 – a target the Bountymen past with Callum Coombs (56 not out) and Chris Froud (53) hitting half-centuries.

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