SPL Division One cricket: Calmore beat Ventor before Voneus National Village Cup final at Lord's

SPL Division One
Calmore Sports CC 267-7
Ventnor CC 223

CALMORE Sports signed off their league campaign and secured third with victory over Ventnor thanks to Ben Johns’ 123 at Steephill on the Isle of Wight.

The 44-run win was the perfect way for Calmore to end the season as they turn their eyes upon the Voneus National Village Cup final – their second in a row after winning last year’s competition – at Lord’s on 18th September.

The host captain and wicketkeeper, Ben Woodhouse, won the toss and elected to field first. However, he soon regretted his choice when the game’s top-scorer Johns and Will Brewster (24) immediately put on 75 runs for the first wicket.

Long-standing captain Mark Lavelle, who recently stepped down from the role after eight years, added a valuable 15 runs before Johns eventually fell after scoring 123 runs, which included 19 fours and a six.

At 210-4, Calmore were in firm control, but they turned the screw further with Josh Metcalfe (36), Max Bailey (34) and Ben Fisher (11 not out) helping set a formidable 267 target.

Far from being daunted by the total, Ventnor looked full of belief, and they had several decent batting returns which dragged them close to the win.

However, thanks to Liam Carty (3-48), Fisher (2-17), Ben Perry (2-37), Lavelle (2-42) and Metcalfe (1-34), the hosts fell 44 runs shy.