Relieved Calmore Sports skipper Mark Lavelle heaped praise on teenage left-hander Ben Johns, whose 94 set up a critical win over Hartley Wintney in the Southern Electric Premier Division 1 relegation showdown at Loperwood Park.
The 17-year old hit a six and 17 fours during a 119-ball stay at the crease which yielded 94 invaluable runs and enabled Calmore to post 210-7.
“It was more like Ben of old, back to the form he showed last season,” Lavelle said.
“He took his time, built his innings but then ran himself out with a century in sight.
“But he did his job and played a lead role in winning a precious game for us.”
Lavelle (23) and Paul Proudley, with a late 27, helped Calmore score of 210-7 as Mark Teale 2-19 was the pick of the Hartley bowlers.
Hartley were soon in trouble with Dan Croft (4-48) removing three of the visitors’ top four, key pair Australian Aaron Wivell and Scott Baldwin both without scoring.
Chris Jolley (39) promoted up the order was the only player in top five to get into double figures.
Dan Wrenn (20) and Richard Hill (32) set about getting the side back on track and skipper Jamie Teale with an excellent unbeaten 70 from 80 balls, which saw him smash two sixes and three fours got Hartley into range.
But they were all out for 196 with eight balls left and ended 15 runs short of a winning score.
The 17-year old hit a six and 17 fours during a 119-ball stay at the crease which yielded 94 invaluable runs and enabled Calmore to post 210-7.
“It was more like Ben of old, back to the form he showed last season,” Lavelle said.
“He took his time, built his innings but then ran himself out with a century in sight.
“But he did his job and played a lead role in winning a precious game for us.”
Lavelle (23) and Paul Proudley, with a late 27, helped Calmore score of 210-7 as Mark Teale 2-19 was the pick of the Hartley bowlers.
Hartley were soon in trouble with Dan Croft (4-48) removing three of the visitors’ top four, key pair Australian Aaron Wivell and Scott Baldwin both without scoring.
Chris Jolley (39) promoted up the order was the only player in top five to get into double figures.
Dan Wrenn (20) and Richard Hill (32) set about getting the side back on track and skipper Jamie Teale with an excellent unbeaten 70 from 80 balls, which saw him smash two sixes and three fours got Hartley into range.
But they were all out for 196 with eight balls left and ended 15 runs short of a winning score.
