Calmore Sports celebrate Village Cup final win (The Cricketer)
Calmore Sports have won the Venous Village Cup at the first time of asking - Ben Johns hitting a superb unbeaten half-century to steer the Southern Premier League club to a magnificent six-wicket win over Alvanley with seven balls of a rain trimmed Lord’s final to spare.
The left-hander kept his cool to hit 58 not out and guide Calmore to a victory that looked improbable when they required 47 off the last five overs.
But with support from his captain Mark Lavelle – aided by a very costly dropped dolly catch at the critical stage – Johns got Calmore across the line, surprisingly with time to spare.
Chasing 112 off 20 overs after rain washed out three hours of play, Calmore were languishing on 55-4 after 13 overs before a 57-run partnership between opener Johns and Lavelle catapulted the Totton side to victory.
Johns, the player of the match, top-scored for Calmore, finishing unbeaten on 58 from 49 deliveries. In the first innings, he also took a spectacular leaping boundary catch to dismiss Stephen Charles for 13.
Calmore looked down and out for much of the second innings, losing Will Brewster and oft dangerman Shawn Johnson to Chris Charles inside three overs before two quick stumpings from Simon Gee off the bowling of Ben Tumilty left them 57 runs shy with only seven overs left.
An 18-run over off the bowling of Lee Ainsworth, which included a monster six from the bat of Johns, dragged Calmore back into the match before a tidy three-run over from Tumilty turned the tables once again.
But Johns and Lavelle had victory in their sight and smashed 26 runs in 12 balls, including a six apiece and a dropped catch off the second ball of the 18th over, to steer Calmore to their maiden title inside 19 overs.
Earlier in the day, Calmore had restricted Alvanley to 150 for 7 (36 overs), with Steve Wright the pick of his side’s bowlers. The left-armer opener conceded just five runs from his eight-over spell, including six maidens, and collected the wickets of Alex Reid and Michael Rowlands to leave the Cheshire side 37-2 after 13 overs and lay the platform for a strong performance in the field from Calmore.
Lavelle also impressed with the ball, taking 2 for 26 to become the competition’s leading wicket-taker with 17 dismissals in 54 overs.
Gee top-scored for Alvanley, posting a gritty 28 from 58 balls including twin sixes into the Mount Stand off the bowling Ben Perry. Ainsworth was also among the runs, scoring a quickfire 26 off 33 balls, while Andy Bennion (15 off 15) and Charlie Fletcher (12 not out off six) threatened an explosive end to Alvanley’s innings before the rain set in.
The left-hander kept his cool to hit 58 not out and guide Calmore to a victory that looked improbable when they required 47 off the last five overs.
But with support from his captain Mark Lavelle – aided by a very costly dropped dolly catch at the critical stage – Johns got Calmore across the line, surprisingly with time to spare.
Chasing 112 off 20 overs after rain washed out three hours of play, Calmore were languishing on 55-4 after 13 overs before a 57-run partnership between opener Johns and Lavelle catapulted the Totton side to victory.
Johns, the player of the match, top-scored for Calmore, finishing unbeaten on 58 from 49 deliveries. In the first innings, he also took a spectacular leaping boundary catch to dismiss Stephen Charles for 13.
Calmore looked down and out for much of the second innings, losing Will Brewster and oft dangerman Shawn Johnson to Chris Charles inside three overs before two quick stumpings from Simon Gee off the bowling of Ben Tumilty left them 57 runs shy with only seven overs left.
An 18-run over off the bowling of Lee Ainsworth, which included a monster six from the bat of Johns, dragged Calmore back into the match before a tidy three-run over from Tumilty turned the tables once again.
But Johns and Lavelle had victory in their sight and smashed 26 runs in 12 balls, including a six apiece and a dropped catch off the second ball of the 18th over, to steer Calmore to their maiden title inside 19 overs.
Earlier in the day, Calmore had restricted Alvanley to 150 for 7 (36 overs), with Steve Wright the pick of his side’s bowlers. The left-armer opener conceded just five runs from his eight-over spell, including six maidens, and collected the wickets of Alex Reid and Michael Rowlands to leave the Cheshire side 37-2 after 13 overs and lay the platform for a strong performance in the field from Calmore.
Lavelle also impressed with the ball, taking 2 for 26 to become the competition’s leading wicket-taker with 17 dismissals in 54 overs.
Gee top-scored for Alvanley, posting a gritty 28 from 58 balls including twin sixes into the Mount Stand off the bowling Ben Perry. Ainsworth was also among the runs, scoring a quickfire 26 off 33 balls, while Andy Bennion (15 off 15) and Charlie Fletcher (12 not out off six) threatened an explosive end to Alvanley’s innings before the rain set in.
A proud moment for Ben Johns as he salutes the cheers from the Calmore Sports' supporters after his unbeaten 58 won the Venous Village Cup man-of-the-match The Cricketer).
