SPCL Division One cricket: Totton & Eling’s Brighton Mugochi blasts side to Calmore Sports victory

SPCL Division One

Calmore Sports CC 115

Totton & Eling CC 121-6

CALMORE Sports’ winless start to the season continued against Totton & Eling, whose clinical bowling set them up for a simple run chase.

After removing the Calmore batters for 115 runs from 47 overs on their home track, Totton & Eling’s Brighton Mugochi and Ethan Taylor led their side to a four-wicket win with just 27.4 overs played.

Zimbabwean Mugochi won the toss for the visitors and wasted no time asking the hosts to bat first at Loperwood Park. This decision proved pivotal, as Calmore lost wickets rapidly.

Mufarowashe Nyamariwata (2-30) and Joe Bracey (1-9) opened the bowling, and their miserly approach restricted Will Brewster (1) and Ben Johns (36) to just three runs off the first two overs before Nyamariwata removed Johns and Chris Diston (0) in back-to-back balls.

Bracey, with the help of a catch from Rajat Parmar, removed Matt J. Taylor (1) to make it 4-3 before Brad Jewer (0) departed after Josh May knocked off his bales after a Brighton Mugochi (3-17) delivery.

Bothwell Chapungu (3-12) caught the next two Calmore victims LBW, first Mark Lavelle after 10 runs before Calmore skipper Ben Johns, who top-scored for his side, departed after scoring 36 to leave his side 86-6.

Max Bailey was the only other Calmore batter to break double figures with a 22-run return, and the innings subsided at a paltry 115.

The other wicket-taker was Parmar (1-21), who had Joe Butcher (7) caught by Chapungu.

Calmore stalwart Lavelle did his best to spark belief in his side, taking responsibility and capturing the first three wickets.

He removed both openers, Bothwell Chapungu (17) and Joe Baker (6), with help from Ben Perry’s catches before Richmond Mutumbami for a duck when wicketkeeper Chris Distoncaught him behind.

At 36-3, Ethan Taylor (23) and Jimmy Taylor (15) dug in, adding 27 runs for the next wicket, but Liam Carty (2-46) removed the former batsmen with Totton & Eling still 52 runs shy of the target.

Taylor and Billy Lightfoot (5) both departed with 72 runs on the board, and Calmore looked to be the side with the momentum.

However, Mugochi (36 not out) and Josh May (nine not out) kept their nerve, slowly adding runs to the tally until a blistering final three-ball spell from Mugochi, who smashed three sixes off three balls to seal a hard-earned victory.

Both sides are scheduled to play on Saturday at 11am, with Calmore hosting Rowledge and Totton & Eling receiving Sarisbury Athletic.