Ben Johns hit 81 before being run out off the last ball of a tie.
Ben Johns was left short and run out as he attempted an ambitious second in a brave bid to win a thrilling derby with Totton & Eling, which ended with the visitors tie-ing their second Southern Premier League Cup match in three weeks.
The neighbourly Loperwood Park Premier/1 West affair ended all square, with Calmore finishing at 173-6, having earlier bowled Totton out for 173. Totton & Eling had also previously tied with St Cross Symondians.
Calmore, needing ten runs to win off the last over, scored a boundary then required two runs off Sam Beer’s final ball, the Dorset-raised youngster having bowled a Jaffa of a penultimate delivery at the talented left-hander.
Ben Johns, who had led the chase with a splendid 81, was comfortably run out coming back for the second.
Such a dramatic finale hard appeared most improbable earlier on a damp afternoon after South African Yannick Lepervanche (3-28) and teenage all-rounder Ben Fisher (3-34) had reduced Totton to 67-7.
But one batsman they hadn’t got out – but should have - was Bright Mugochi, who had made only 12 when he dollied up a school playground catch to mid-wicket, where James Hibberd was unable to cling hold of the sanitized ball, which landed agonizingly by his feet.
It was one of those Herschelle Gibbs ‘dropped the World Cup’ moments from 1999, when the South African cricketer floored a simple catch off Steve Waugh, whose unbeaten 120 won Australia a thriller at Edgbaston.
“It was an absolute sitter, but these things happen,” reflected Calmore skipper Mark Lavelle.
“Hibbo suggested his dropped catch (off Mugochi) had made a game of it, but I’m not sure I viewed it quite like that.”
Spade
Hibberd must have felt like asking the Calmore groundsman for a spade to dig a hole for himself in the outfield as Mugochi (ex-Burridge/Solent University) proceeded to pummel the bowling to all parts of the tree lined ground, with Cooks Lane particularly popular.
He smashed seven huge sixes and 11 fours in an amazing 111 off 69 balls, scoring 54 of the 59-run last wicket ‘partnership’ with last man Matt Graves, who failed to get off the mark. The other five were extras. Mugochi, who was playing franchise cricket in his native Zimbabwe until four years ago, was superbly caught and bowled by James Manning.
When Calmore replied, Hakim Peruzi conceded only 13 runs off his eight overs, four of which were maidens, trapping Max Bailey leg before.
It left Johns to underpin the Calmore run chase. He shared a 58-run stand with Sam Moss (27) and later (with drizzle a bug bear for all concerned) 62 with Ben Fisher (25) which took the hosts to 164-5 and to within ten runs of victory off Beer’s last over.
Elusive
Former Mashonaland Eagles all-rounder Mugochi, bowling his left-arm spin, continued to play a lead role, nipping out four Calmore batsmen at a personal cost of 42 runs.
Then came that dramatic final over, with Johns boosting Calmore’s win prospects with a boundary, but being run out by Peruzi off the last ball as he returned seeking that elusive second winning run.
“It was a very good knock, once again, from Ben. We timed it almost perfectly, keeping wickets in hand,” added Lavelle, who was full of praise for James Taylor, the Totton skipper.
“Fair play to Jimmy and their guys, who could have easily walked off the field during a 20-minute period of drizzle. They played on through the wet when the run rate was in their favour. Like us, they’ve missed so much cricket this season, they just wanted to get a game in.
“And credit to umpires Sean Lilley and Bob Marchant, who stood out in unpleasant conditions throughout the afternoon and evening.”
The neighbourly Loperwood Park Premier/1 West affair ended all square, with Calmore finishing at 173-6, having earlier bowled Totton out for 173. Totton & Eling had also previously tied with St Cross Symondians.
Calmore, needing ten runs to win off the last over, scored a boundary then required two runs off Sam Beer’s final ball, the Dorset-raised youngster having bowled a Jaffa of a penultimate delivery at the talented left-hander.
Ben Johns, who had led the chase with a splendid 81, was comfortably run out coming back for the second.
Such a dramatic finale hard appeared most improbable earlier on a damp afternoon after South African Yannick Lepervanche (3-28) and teenage all-rounder Ben Fisher (3-34) had reduced Totton to 67-7.
But one batsman they hadn’t got out – but should have - was Bright Mugochi, who had made only 12 when he dollied up a school playground catch to mid-wicket, where James Hibberd was unable to cling hold of the sanitized ball, which landed agonizingly by his feet.
It was one of those Herschelle Gibbs ‘dropped the World Cup’ moments from 1999, when the South African cricketer floored a simple catch off Steve Waugh, whose unbeaten 120 won Australia a thriller at Edgbaston.
“It was an absolute sitter, but these things happen,” reflected Calmore skipper Mark Lavelle.
“Hibbo suggested his dropped catch (off Mugochi) had made a game of it, but I’m not sure I viewed it quite like that.”
Spade
Hibberd must have felt like asking the Calmore groundsman for a spade to dig a hole for himself in the outfield as Mugochi (ex-Burridge/Solent University) proceeded to pummel the bowling to all parts of the tree lined ground, with Cooks Lane particularly popular.
He smashed seven huge sixes and 11 fours in an amazing 111 off 69 balls, scoring 54 of the 59-run last wicket ‘partnership’ with last man Matt Graves, who failed to get off the mark. The other five were extras. Mugochi, who was playing franchise cricket in his native Zimbabwe until four years ago, was superbly caught and bowled by James Manning.
When Calmore replied, Hakim Peruzi conceded only 13 runs off his eight overs, four of which were maidens, trapping Max Bailey leg before.
It left Johns to underpin the Calmore run chase. He shared a 58-run stand with Sam Moss (27) and later (with drizzle a bug bear for all concerned) 62 with Ben Fisher (25) which took the hosts to 164-5 and to within ten runs of victory off Beer’s last over.
Elusive
Former Mashonaland Eagles all-rounder Mugochi, bowling his left-arm spin, continued to play a lead role, nipping out four Calmore batsmen at a personal cost of 42 runs.
Then came that dramatic final over, with Johns boosting Calmore’s win prospects with a boundary, but being run out by Peruzi off the last ball as he returned seeking that elusive second winning run.
“It was a very good knock, once again, from Ben. We timed it almost perfectly, keeping wickets in hand,” added Lavelle, who was full of praise for James Taylor, the Totton skipper.
“Fair play to Jimmy and their guys, who could have easily walked off the field during a 20-minute period of drizzle. They played on through the wet when the run rate was in their favour. Like us, they’ve missed so much cricket this season, they just wanted to get a game in.
“And credit to umpires Sean Lilley and Bob Marchant, who stood out in unpleasant conditions throughout the afternoon and evening.”
Brighton Mugochi, man of the match
