Calmore Sports are a healthy 19-points ahead as they go head-to-head with Basingstoke & North Hants for the British Gas Southern League Division One title.
They consolidated their position at the top with a three wicket win over Ventnor, while Basingstoke kept up three pressure with a 20-run win at Bournemouth, which leaves the Dorset side adrift in the promotion race.
Calmore’s win at Newclose was a hard earned affair, although after two new balls strikes by Paul Proudley (2-20) which had Ventnor rocking at 10-3 it initially appeared a good deal easier.
Neil Westhorpe (65) and teenager Ben Herridge (45) shared a century stand before Australian Jack Rutter (4-43) broke through.
Ventnor promptly lost six wickets for 22 runs and closed 156 all out.
Michael Cook (38) and Liam Newton (28) eased a reshuffled Calmore to 79-1, after which it proved hard work, with teen spinner Dan Cox (4-25) making inroads.
Calmore dropped to 115-5, but Proudley (21) and Ben Johns eventually got them across the line with two overs to spare.
They consolidated their position at the top with a three wicket win over Ventnor, while Basingstoke kept up three pressure with a 20-run win at Bournemouth, which leaves the Dorset side adrift in the promotion race.
Calmore’s win at Newclose was a hard earned affair, although after two new balls strikes by Paul Proudley (2-20) which had Ventnor rocking at 10-3 it initially appeared a good deal easier.
Neil Westhorpe (65) and teenager Ben Herridge (45) shared a century stand before Australian Jack Rutter (4-43) broke through.
Ventnor promptly lost six wickets for 22 runs and closed 156 all out.
Michael Cook (38) and Liam Newton (28) eased a reshuffled Calmore to 79-1, after which it proved hard work, with teen spinner Dan Cox (4-25) making inroads.
Calmore dropped to 115-5, but Proudley (21) and Ben Johns eventually got them across the line with two overs to spare.
BASINGSTOKE suffered the early loss of Dan Belcher, but Max Harsham (28) and Chris Froud (18) moved the score past 50, before both became victims of left-arm spinner Jeremy Warner (3-26).
Mitch Stokes, pictured, with 49 from 53 balls, and Will Phillips (40) then added 77 for the fourth wicket, but the only other players to get into double figures were Richard Vinn (19 not out) and Chris Jolley (who hit the only six of the innings), as Basingstoke ended up on 196-9.
Pegged by tight new ball bowling by Martyn James and David Griffiths (1-18), Bournemouth never got into a position to dictate proceedings, dropping to 47-3 and later 99-5.
Martin Miller (30) and Jake Hurley (33) revived their fortunes, but from an enhanced 132-5, they fell away to 176-9, with Stokes and Phillips each taking two wickets and young Ash Neal producing seven overs of tidy off-spin.
Mitch Stokes, pictured, with 49 from 53 balls, and Will Phillips (40) then added 77 for the fourth wicket, but the only other players to get into double figures were Richard Vinn (19 not out) and Chris Jolley (who hit the only six of the innings), as Basingstoke ended up on 196-9.
Pegged by tight new ball bowling by Martyn James and David Griffiths (1-18), Bournemouth never got into a position to dictate proceedings, dropping to 47-3 and later 99-5.
Martin Miller (30) and Jake Hurley (33) revived their fortunes, but from an enhanced 132-5, they fell away to 176-9, with Stokes and Phillips each taking two wickets and young Ash Neal producing seven overs of tidy off-spin.
Remaining games
Calmore Sports: Sarisbury Athletic [h), Rowledge [a], Portsmouth [h]
Basingstoke: Portsmouth [h], Tichborne Park [a], Hook & Newnham Basics [a].
Calmore Sports: Sarisbury Athletic [h), Rowledge [a], Portsmouth [h]
Basingstoke: Portsmouth [h], Tichborne Park [a], Hook & Newnham Basics [a].
