New Milton skipper George Watts denied Calmore a share of the spoils.
Leaders New Milton extended their winning Southern Premier Division 1 start to four games with a tense four-run victory over previously undefeated Calmore Sports at Fernhill.
Ben Perry needed to hit the final ball of the match, bowled by George Watts, to the boundary to tie the game - or hit a six to give Calmore victory. In the end he did neither, Watts (1-19 off eight overs) instead rearranging his stumps.
Calmore would have been heartened after bowling out the table-toppers for 163, South African Harlan Greig hitting 51 before New Milton tumbled from 93-2. But Ed Bartlett (4-20) ripped through their own top order in reply to leave Calmore 58-5.
Calmore, who travel to Maidenhead on Sunday to play Cookham Dean in the National Village Cup, rallied through James Manning (26) and Lavelle himself but both departed in quick succession as the visitors dipped to 113-7 when off-spinner Perry (34) and Mike West (10 not out) came together to add 46 for the last wicket and ensure some frantic New Milton nail-biting.
Beaten Calmore skipper Mark Lavelle reflected: “It was a great fight back from us, initially with the ball with the ball and then Jimmy Manning and myself pulled us back into it with the bat, but went in quick succession.
“Pez gave us hope but just wasn’t meant to be. It was a really good game of cricket that ebbed and flowed.”
Calmore’s first slip of the summer enabled neighbours Totton & Eling (their opponents at Loperwood Park on Saturday, 12.30) to nick second place. They easily beat Andover by 78 runs, the result putting the lions on bottom of the table.
Former Berkshire Minor Counties all-rounder Harry Stephens shone for Totton, with 42 and 3-26, but it was Brighton Mugochi (68) and Owen Morris (41) who top scored in their 236-7. Andover rolled over for 158, Nathan Birks hitting 70 and Toby Green taking 3-14.
Josh Hill led from the front once again as Sarisbury Athletic strolled to a six-wicket win over St Cross Symondians II, whose much changed side bore little resemblance to the one that crushed Portsmouth a week earlier.
In trouble at 115-5, St Cross climbed to an eventual 185-6 due to Dylan Clarke (53) and Charlie Preston, whose 37 included two sixes and three fours. Ricky Rawlins (50) laid down the marker before Hill blazed four maximums and six 4s to clinch an easy Athletic win.
Ben Perry needed to hit the final ball of the match, bowled by George Watts, to the boundary to tie the game - or hit a six to give Calmore victory. In the end he did neither, Watts (1-19 off eight overs) instead rearranging his stumps.
Calmore would have been heartened after bowling out the table-toppers for 163, South African Harlan Greig hitting 51 before New Milton tumbled from 93-2. But Ed Bartlett (4-20) ripped through their own top order in reply to leave Calmore 58-5.
Calmore, who travel to Maidenhead on Sunday to play Cookham Dean in the National Village Cup, rallied through James Manning (26) and Lavelle himself but both departed in quick succession as the visitors dipped to 113-7 when off-spinner Perry (34) and Mike West (10 not out) came together to add 46 for the last wicket and ensure some frantic New Milton nail-biting.
Beaten Calmore skipper Mark Lavelle reflected: “It was a great fight back from us, initially with the ball with the ball and then Jimmy Manning and myself pulled us back into it with the bat, but went in quick succession.
“Pez gave us hope but just wasn’t meant to be. It was a really good game of cricket that ebbed and flowed.”
Calmore’s first slip of the summer enabled neighbours Totton & Eling (their opponents at Loperwood Park on Saturday, 12.30) to nick second place. They easily beat Andover by 78 runs, the result putting the lions on bottom of the table.
Former Berkshire Minor Counties all-rounder Harry Stephens shone for Totton, with 42 and 3-26, but it was Brighton Mugochi (68) and Owen Morris (41) who top scored in their 236-7. Andover rolled over for 158, Nathan Birks hitting 70 and Toby Green taking 3-14.
Josh Hill led from the front once again as Sarisbury Athletic strolled to a six-wicket win over St Cross Symondians II, whose much changed side bore little resemblance to the one that crushed Portsmouth a week earlier.
In trouble at 115-5, St Cross climbed to an eventual 185-6 due to Dylan Clarke (53) and Charlie Preston, whose 37 included two sixes and three fours. Ricky Rawlins (50) laid down the marker before Hill blazed four maximums and six 4s to clinch an easy Athletic win.
