Bashley beat Calmore by eight wickets to take top spot

Prem Div / Div 1 (West): Calmore Sports CC 138-9 vs Bashley CC 139-2

BASHLEY CC's blistering start to the league season continued against Calmore Sports CC after an eight-wicket victory saw the side regain top spot in the table.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Calmore put seventeen on the board before opener Will Brewster (9) was superbly caught and bowled by Bashley’s Josh Digby (1-24).

Benjamin Fletcher (3-18) caught Max Bailey (3) LBW before Ben Johns was caught by Michael Porter off an Ethan Baker (2-24) delivery to leave the home side on 31-3.

Calmore’s best spell of the innings came in the middle order with James Manning (22), Ben Fisher (38) and Matt Taylor (17) putting up good numbers.

However, once their resistance crumbled, so did Calmore’s. Impressive bowling from Dominic Clutterbuck (3-33) helped mop up the tailenders to limit the Loperwood Park contingent’s innings to 138-9.

Bashley’s run chase got off to an inauspicious start after openers, Tom Jacques (0) and Alex Turner (4), soon found themselves back in the pavilion after facing a combined total of nine deliveries.

First Jaques was caught LBW by Mark Lavelle (1-39) before Turner was bowled by Yannick De Mezieres Lepervanche (1-20) to leave their side on 9-2.

With their side faltering, Ben Walker (30*) and Michael Porter (74*) put together an excellent undefeated batting display to lead their team to an impressive eight-wicket victory to secure top place for another week.

Bashley’s next match will see them take on another local side, New Milton CC, at home while Calmore will play South Wilts.