Andy Spink went from potential hero to zero as Hursley Park crashed out of the National Village Cup, Calmore Sports edging a four-run preliminary round victory at The Quarters.
Spink was 49 not out and at 118-5 with 13 balls of a rain trimmed 27 over affair still to be bowled, appeared to have Hursley on course to overhaul Calmore’s 133-6.
But instead of working the ball around the field, as he had been doing, Spink, a one-time Saints fitness coach at The Dell, went for a big straight hit off 14-year old spin prospect Oli Hibberd (3-29) and was caught on the boundary by Brad Jewer.
With Mark Lavelle (2-19) bowling the key ‘death’ overs, Hursley found themselves marooned at 129-7, four runs adrift.
Lavelle [pictured left] had earlier been influential with the bat. With Calmore struggling at 88-5 (Ben Johns 26), Lavelle smacked a late 34 not out and with Mitch Parker (21) alongside lifted the 2021 Lord’s Village Cup winners to 133-6.
First round ties on April 27 include: Calmore Sports v Odiham & Greywell, Sarisbury Athletic v Sway Liphook & Ripsley v Elsted, Cadnam v Hook & Newnham Basics, Oakley v Hambledon, Sparsholt v Tichborne Park, Bramshaw v Overton, Easton & Martyr Worthy v Paultons, Colehill v Winsley.
Spink was 49 not out and at 118-5 with 13 balls of a rain trimmed 27 over affair still to be bowled, appeared to have Hursley on course to overhaul Calmore’s 133-6.
But instead of working the ball around the field, as he had been doing, Spink, a one-time Saints fitness coach at The Dell, went for a big straight hit off 14-year old spin prospect Oli Hibberd (3-29) and was caught on the boundary by Brad Jewer.
With Mark Lavelle (2-19) bowling the key ‘death’ overs, Hursley found themselves marooned at 129-7, four runs adrift.
Lavelle [pictured left] had earlier been influential with the bat. With Calmore struggling at 88-5 (Ben Johns 26), Lavelle smacked a late 34 not out and with Mitch Parker (21) alongside lifted the 2021 Lord’s Village Cup winners to 133-6.
First round ties on April 27 include: Calmore Sports v Odiham & Greywell, Sarisbury Athletic v Sway Liphook & Ripsley v Elsted, Cadnam v Hook & Newnham Basics, Oakley v Hambledon, Sparsholt v Tichborne Park, Bramshaw v Overton, Easton & Martyr Worthy v Paultons, Colehill v Winsley.
