![Picture](/uploads/4/8/0/1/48017493/published/steve-wright-bwl.jpg?250)
Cambridgeshire side Foxton Granta stand between Calmore Sports and a second consecutive Lord’s appearance in the Voneus national Village Cup final.
Calmore will host the Cambridge & Huntingdonshire Premier League club in the semi-finals at Loperwood Park on Sunday week, July 31.
That’s their reward for knocking out WEPL opponents Goatacre for the second year running by a five-wicket margin after dismissing the Wiltshire visitors for 112.
It was Calmore’s 15th successive victory in the Village Cup, which they won at Lord’s last September, beating Cheshire side Alvanley, themselves knocked out at the weekend’s quarter-final stage.
They were beaten by Liverpool-based Rainsford, who have home advantage against Worcestershire’s Dumbleton on July 31.
Goatacre, second in the WEPL Gloucestershire/Wiltshire Division, fielded eight of the side that had blasted 362-8 against league rivals Marshfield the previous day.
But there was to be no repeat of that run spree at leafy Loperwood Park, though Goatacre went ‘hard’ at it, opener Jack Haines hitting Steve Wright (left, picture by Tim Rogers) (2-20) for a six and then being bowled off the final ball of the left-armer’s opening over.
“Steve and Josh Metcalfe (1-19) bowled really well with the new ball after which we bowled in a disciplined manner, set tight fields and applied the squeeze which we are so good at,” reflected Calmore skipper Mark Lavelle.
“To underline how well we bowled, we didn’t concede a single extra – not even a leg bye – in their 37 overs. That’s phenomenal and went a long way to us winning the game.”
Modest
With Lavelle (3-16) himself and Ben Perry (2-28) equally effective, Goatacre struggled to 86-8, but managed to eke out another 28 runs at the tail end of the innings to at least give their bowlers a chance of defending a modest 112.
It was essential Goatacre kept it tight from the start – but they didn’t ! Calmore took ten runs off Conor Taylor’s opening eight-ball over, which contained two wides.
Come the end, the extras tally had risen to 27 – top score in the Calmore innings – 21 wides and six byes.
Goatacre’s three spinners began to exploit some lift and turn off the surface, but Ben Johns, the unbeaten half-century hero of Calmore’s early 2021 autumn triumph at Lord’s, was unflappable.
Watching every ball closely, the left-hander hit 26 to ease the Hampshire side’s reply to 77-4 when he was caught off David Miles (2-30). Goatacre sniffed a chance, but it was really too little too late.
A handful of unorthodox shots by Max Bailey (16) followed by a huge six over mid-wicket by James Manning (21 not out) ended the contest, Calmore booking their semi-final place against Foxton Granta with six overs and more to spare.
Calmore will host the Cambridge & Huntingdonshire Premier League club in the semi-finals at Loperwood Park on Sunday week, July 31.
That’s their reward for knocking out WEPL opponents Goatacre for the second year running by a five-wicket margin after dismissing the Wiltshire visitors for 112.
It was Calmore’s 15th successive victory in the Village Cup, which they won at Lord’s last September, beating Cheshire side Alvanley, themselves knocked out at the weekend’s quarter-final stage.
They were beaten by Liverpool-based Rainsford, who have home advantage against Worcestershire’s Dumbleton on July 31.
Goatacre, second in the WEPL Gloucestershire/Wiltshire Division, fielded eight of the side that had blasted 362-8 against league rivals Marshfield the previous day.
But there was to be no repeat of that run spree at leafy Loperwood Park, though Goatacre went ‘hard’ at it, opener Jack Haines hitting Steve Wright (left, picture by Tim Rogers) (2-20) for a six and then being bowled off the final ball of the left-armer’s opening over.
“Steve and Josh Metcalfe (1-19) bowled really well with the new ball after which we bowled in a disciplined manner, set tight fields and applied the squeeze which we are so good at,” reflected Calmore skipper Mark Lavelle.
“To underline how well we bowled, we didn’t concede a single extra – not even a leg bye – in their 37 overs. That’s phenomenal and went a long way to us winning the game.”
Modest
With Lavelle (3-16) himself and Ben Perry (2-28) equally effective, Goatacre struggled to 86-8, but managed to eke out another 28 runs at the tail end of the innings to at least give their bowlers a chance of defending a modest 112.
It was essential Goatacre kept it tight from the start – but they didn’t ! Calmore took ten runs off Conor Taylor’s opening eight-ball over, which contained two wides.
Come the end, the extras tally had risen to 27 – top score in the Calmore innings – 21 wides and six byes.
Goatacre’s three spinners began to exploit some lift and turn off the surface, but Ben Johns, the unbeaten half-century hero of Calmore’s early 2021 autumn triumph at Lord’s, was unflappable.
Watching every ball closely, the left-hander hit 26 to ease the Hampshire side’s reply to 77-4 when he was caught off David Miles (2-30). Goatacre sniffed a chance, but it was really too little too late.
A handful of unorthodox shots by Max Bailey (16) followed by a huge six over mid-wicket by James Manning (21 not out) ended the contest, Calmore booking their semi-final place against Foxton Granta with six overs and more to spare.