Calmore Sports Club win thrilling see-saw match against Cookham Dean to make the Voneus Village Cup last 16

Voneus Village Cup Round Five

Cookham Dean 120
Calmore Sports 123-8

CALMORE Sports Club claimed a nail-biting two-wicket Voneus Village Cup win against Cookham Dean in the last over after appearing to be in complete control to make the last 16.

With the hosts all out for 120 runs and Calmore in cruise control at 48-0, a flurry of wickets saw the Totton-based side slip to 112-8 as it appeared they had let the match slip, needing 20 runs off 36 balls.

However, veteran tailender Mike West remained composed and sealed the victory and a last 16 spot in the national competition with a sumptuous boundary and three balls remaining.

After choosing to bowl, Calmore skipper Mark Lavelle gave the ball to Steve Wright. Despite his accurate and precise bowling, the hosts progressed steadily with a 33-run partnership between captain Ben Millar (11) and former Berkshire batsman Tom Fray (14).

However, Fray’s departure led to an implosion with Cookham Dean slumping to 49-6, the damage inflicted by West (2-22) and Wright (3-10). Shawn Johnson took the other wicket.

The middle and late order attempted to restore the innings, and they made a commendable effort dragging the total to 120 before Calmore’s Ben Perry finished with three wickets for 15 runs.

In reply, Calmore got off to a promising start with openers Will Brewster (26) and Ben Johns (24) notching 48 runs from 10 overs. However, a disastrous spell saw the visitors lose seven wickets for just 45 runs and leave their cup run hanging in the balance on 93-7.

The momentum shifted with the arrival of Perry and West. They may have carved out only 19 runs, but it was a vital contribution as Perry put together 10 runs off 41 balls before Davis caught him off the bowling of James Le Fleming with six runs needed from the final over.

West added a single off the first ball before Wright added three runs. Then, with two runs needed, West hit his only boundary of the match off the third ball, much to the delight of the travelling Calmore faithful.

Calmore Sports will take on Dorset and Wiltshire champions Goatacre at home on 4th July.