VENTNOR were left depleted by the rival attractions of the Isle of Wight Festival, but still came within 11 runs of beating Liphook & Ripsley in the Southern Premier League Division One.

Liphook, in fact, owed their victory to a superb all-round performance from George Neave who followed up a whirlwind 82 with a three-wicket burst to end the islanders’ challenge.

Ventnor skipper Chris Russell was too sharp for Liphook’s top order and the visitors were in disarray at 49-5. Russell dismissed the top three with the assistance of Ben Woodhouse who, remarkably, caught the first five batsmen behind the stumps.

Number 6 Neave then launched his one-man assault, striking 82 off 63 balls in 69 minutes, smashing 11 fours and five sixes, damaging the pavilion roof and turning the game on its head. The next highest score, apart from Extras (33), was 15 and with Liphook bowled out for 189, Ventnor had a good chance of victory.

Opener Tom Friend threatened to win the game on his own with a rapid 69 until he was caught by the irrepressible Neave – off fit-again Charles Janczur (3-31). A late stand of 52 between Woodhouse and Charlie Sammons kept Ventnor in the chase until Neave shot out the last three.