Ben Johns got his eye in for Sunday’s Voneus Village Cup tie against Cornishmen Grampound Road at Loperwood Park (1pm) with an unbeaten century which steered Calmore Sports to a nervy four-wicket win over Basingstoke & North Hants, achieved with only three balls to spare.
The 105 not out Johns scored was his seventh in the SPL and his second against Basingstoke, his first coming in 2017.
It proved critical as Calmore collapsed from 90-1 to 131-5 against the bowling of Dubs Wood ( 3-41), Brad Neal (2-27) and Ash Neal (1-28).
The left-hander, who was still at school when he made his maiden hundred (122 v Tichborne Park) back in 2013, faced 177 balls, considerably more than the combined total of his team-mates. He hit two sixes and nine fours.
Playing his last matches before setting off on his global travels, Ash Neal bagged a first baller in his final match in charge as Basingstoke earlier collapsed from 70 without loss to 84-6 against the 2021 national Village Cup winners.
Seven wickets fell for 14 runs after openers Dubs Wood (35) and Richard Vinn 27) had put on 70. They departed in quick succession, with Neal hastily following them back to the Loperwood Park pavilion.
Off-spinner Liam Carty (4-41) cut through the Basingstoke batting – the side sinking deeper into the mire at 105-7 when Greg Donaldson (44) and Mat Thankachan (34) added 69 to at least give the visitors a relatively competitive 174 run total.
But Basingstoke made Calmore fight every inch of the way for their four-wicket victory, taking the game to the third ball of the final over before waving the white flag.
The 105 not out Johns scored was his seventh in the SPL and his second against Basingstoke, his first coming in 2017.
It proved critical as Calmore collapsed from 90-1 to 131-5 against the bowling of Dubs Wood ( 3-41), Brad Neal (2-27) and Ash Neal (1-28).
The left-hander, who was still at school when he made his maiden hundred (122 v Tichborne Park) back in 2013, faced 177 balls, considerably more than the combined total of his team-mates. He hit two sixes and nine fours.
Playing his last matches before setting off on his global travels, Ash Neal bagged a first baller in his final match in charge as Basingstoke earlier collapsed from 70 without loss to 84-6 against the 2021 national Village Cup winners.
Seven wickets fell for 14 runs after openers Dubs Wood (35) and Richard Vinn 27) had put on 70. They departed in quick succession, with Neal hastily following them back to the Loperwood Park pavilion.
Off-spinner Liam Carty (4-41) cut through the Basingstoke batting – the side sinking deeper into the mire at 105-7 when Greg Donaldson (44) and Mat Thankachan (34) added 69 to at least give the visitors a relatively competitive 174 run total.
But Basingstoke made Calmore fight every inch of the way for their four-wicket victory, taking the game to the third ball of the final over before waving the white flag.