SPL Division One cricket: New Milton recover to snatch win against Calmore Sports
SPL Division One
New Milton CC 202-8
Calmore Sports CC 183
NEW Milton returned to winning ways with a relatively straightforward victory over Calmore Sports at Fernhill Sports Ground.
Lee Beck (43) and Ed Bartlett (53) top-scored to help New Milton to 202 before Calmore, who perhaps had one eye on their Venous Village Cup quarter-final the next day, lost crucial wickets early on.
New Milton won the toss and elected to bat first, but they soon regretted the decision when they found themselves at 34-5.
Calmore's Ben Fisher (3-22) made the initial breakthrough, having James Adams (2) caught by Josh Metcalfe before bowling Ben Griffiths for a duck to leave New Milton at 19-2.
As if that start was not bad enough, New Milton soon found themselves five down when Steve Wright (2-20) caused the demise of Jo Wooster (9) and Toby Edwards (2), the former losing his wicker and the latter trapped leg-before.
After a brief appearance for Ryan Beck (8), New Milton did a fine job of repairing the innings thanks to dogged displays from Lee Beck (43), Bartlett (53), George Watts (24 not out) and Dan Loader (31 not out).
Calmore's other wicket-takers were Liam Carty (2-27) and Mark Lavelle (1-40).
After their remarkable recovery, New Milton captured the wickets of both Calmore openers within 29 runs. Firstly, Sam Moss (0) departed on his second ball when Ed Wooster caught him off Bartlett (1-36), before Joe Hall (2-46) completed a superb run-out to dismiss Calmore's top-scorer Ben Johns (4).
With Calmore faltering at 29-2, captain Lavelle (31) looked to stem the bleeding, but he soon followed when Lee Beck (1-14) had him LBW at 50-3.
Calmore Sports' Max Bailey (65) and Ben Fisher (36) did their best to increase the run rate, but they fell just short, with the innings closing 19 runs shy of the target.
New Milton's other wickets came from Loader (3-27) and Ryan Beck (2-32).
Both sides are back in action at home on Saturday at 12.30pm, with Calmore hosting Sarisbury Athletic and New Milton welcoming Sparsholt.
