HAMPSHIRE’S Calmore Sports Club take historic victory over Alvanley at Lord’s in Voneus Village Cup final, despite needing a chase of 47 runs from the last five overs during debut campaign.

Calmore were set a target of 112 to win from 20 overs in a shortened game after rain had washed out play for three hours at the Home of Cricket. Alvanley had initially posted 150-7 from 36 overs.

After a slow start, losing Will Brewster and dangerman Shawn Johnson in the first three overs, the Hampshire side still required 47 runs from the final 30 balls.

They pulled off a magic chase with opening batsman Ben Johns and skipper Mark Lavelle hitting a 57-run partnership to propel them to victory with seven balls spare.

Johns and Lavelle smacked 26 runs from 12 balls including a six apiece in the to steer the side to the maiden trophy at the first time of asking – the club’s first entry into the competition.

The player of the match, Johns, top scored for Calmore with an unbeaten 58 from 49 deliveries – while Lavelle’s two wickets with the ball in hand meant he finished as the leading wicket scorer for the entire competition with 17.

The rest of the bowling lineup assisted to limit Alvanley’s top scorer, Simon Gee, to 28 from 58 balls, although Andy Bennion (15 off 15) and Charlie Fletcher (12 not out off six) looked to get into rhythm before the rain ended their innings early.

The village outfit took a squad of 13 players, with two of those coming into the field to experience the wonder of playing cricket at Lord’s – even if they wouldn’t get a chance to bat or bowl.