Calmore's Shaun Johnson celebrates his dramatic last-over catch [Bob Selley]
A superb running catch in the deep by Calmore Sports all-rounder Shaun Johnson, sentenced struggling Sparsholt to a five-run defeat – their fourth on the spin in Southern Premier Division 1.
Into the final over and Sparsholt needed six runs to win the match at Loperwood Park and overhaul Calmore’s modest 150-9.
Teenager Josh Williams hit James Manning’s third ball out towards deep mid-wicket, from where Johnson ran in to take a low catch. It meant that Sparsholt were all out for 145.
Into the final over and Sparsholt needed six runs to win the match at Loperwood Park and overhaul Calmore’s modest 150-9.
Teenager Josh Williams hit James Manning’s third ball out towards deep mid-wicket, from where Johnson ran in to take a low catch. It meant that Sparsholt were all out for 145.
Marcus Bound won't want to see this picture too often [Martin Fisher]
Calmore, who visit Bramshaw in the Village Cup county final on Sunday (1pm), stumbled from 82-1 (Will Brewster 43) to 123-8 – seven wickets falling for 41 runs against some effective spin bowling by Oli Williams (1-16) and Callum Doran (2-16).
But Steve Wright, often so economical with the ball, scored 19 precious runs in the closing stages of the innings and with Dan Croft edged the Calmore total to 150-9.
But Steve Wright, often so economical with the ball, scored 19 precious runs in the closing stages of the innings and with Dan Croft edged the Calmore total to 150-9.
Steve Wright's 19 was a Calmore game changer [Martin Fisher]
Left-armer Wright conceded only nine runs off his ten overs, but Sparsholt openers Jeremy Frith (37) and Will Berrill (27) knitted together a half-century start, but when off-spinner Liam Carty (4-25) broke the mould, wickets started to fall.
Carty and Ben Perry (3-44) called the tune as Sparsholt slid from 75-1 to 115-7, Tom Berzins (23) doing his best to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Calum Doran hit a quick-fire 21 to get Sparsholt to 135-7, but two quick wickets left last pair Josh Williams and Ash Lovell to make the last 13 runs to pull off a visiting victory.
They got seven of them, but with six more runs needed the unlucky Williams picked out the on-running Johnson who claimed the winning catch.
Carty and Ben Perry (3-44) called the tune as Sparsholt slid from 75-1 to 115-7, Tom Berzins (23) doing his best to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Calum Doran hit a quick-fire 21 to get Sparsholt to 135-7, but two quick wickets left last pair Josh Williams and Ash Lovell to make the last 13 runs to pull off a visiting victory.
They got seven of them, but with six more runs needed the unlucky Williams picked out the on-running Johnson who claimed the winning catch.
Liam Carty troubled Sparsholt with his off-spin [Martin Fisher]
