Two clubs, situated more than 200 miles apart, brought together at the culmination of an epic journey to reach NW8. Yes, 161 days after the first preliminary matches were held, the 2021 Voneus Village Cup final is upon us with Calmore Sports Club and Alvanley CC competing to be crowned champion in the competition’s 50th year.
Whatever the outcome, there is likely to be drama with Calmore involved. Participating in a tricky Hampshire group, the Village Cup debutants cruised into the second round after Langley Manor conceded but required an all-round masterclass from Shawn Johnson to overcome Paultons. Johnson, who received the Theakston Player of the Round award for his efforts, scored a 90-ball 79 to help rescue his side from 26 for 3 to 190 for 6 before taking three wickets in the final over, including one off the final ball, to seal a four-run victory and record his maiden Village Cup five-for.
A routine seven-wicket victory away at Sarisbury Athletic took Calmore to the regional final where they once again left it late at home to Sparsholt, labouring from 149 for 2 in the 26th over to 202 for 6 in the 40th to secure a four-wicket win with three balls remaining.
Back on the road in round five, Calmore put in a similarly nerve-shredding performance against Cookham Dean. Mark Lavelle’s side bowled the Berkshire champions out for 120, with Steve Wright collecting 3 for 10, before scoring 48 without loss from 10 overs to put one foot in the last 16. However, a flurry of late wickets saw them collapse to 112 for 8. Requiring six runs off the final over, veteran Mike West kept his cool and dispatched a four down to the third-man boundary to wrap up a tense two-wicket win, once again with three balls to spare.
And the drama didn’t end there. Pursuing 134 to defeat Goatacre, Calmore were flying on 92 for 1 during the 27th over before stuttering in their chase. With two runs needed off the final ball, Lavelle could only scamper a single to tie the scores at 133 each. A quick glance at the rule book determined the Hampshire outfit were the victors, progressing to the quarter-finals on fewer wickets lost (eight to Goatacre’s 10).
Calmore’s leading run-scorers
Will Brewster – 218 runs @ 43.60
Shawn Johnson – 216 runs @ 36.00
Ben Johns – 194 runs @ 32.33
Calmore’s leading wicket-takers
Mark Lavelle – 15 wickets @ 11.26
Shawn Johnson – 10 wickets @ 14.90
Ben Perry – 9 wickets @ 18.66
Fortunately, having squeaked into the last eight, Calmore opted to spare their supporters another life expectancy-shortening performance against Rockhampton, securing a place in the semi-finals with a convincing 38-run win at Loperwood Park.
At home once again in the last four, Calmore expected a tough time against big-hitting Stoke Green. However, the Hampshire champions saved their best performance for this crucial clash, bowling the Buckinghamshire side out for 117 before romping to a shock 10-wicket victory inside 26 overs. Will Brewster and Ben Johns each scored half-centuries in the chase while young Liam Carty and skipper Lavelle took 4 for 21 and 4 for 20, respectively.
Alvaney, too, have had their fair share of drama en route to the final, with rain and Covid-19 delaying four of their seven fixtures.
Awarded a bye into round two, they breezed past Halkyn at home, restricting their visitors to 131 for 9 as they chased 225 to record a 93-run victory. A 50-run victory over Northop Hall followed to set up a Cheshire & Clwyd regional final against 1996 and 1997 champions Caldy – the first of four former winners to challenge Michael Rowlands’ side in 2021.
Having only progressed to the national rounds on one occasion prior to this year, Alvanley could have been forgiven for showing some nerves against Caldy. However, they brushed aside the Wirral-based team with ease, triumphing by 45 runs after posting an intimidating total of 243 for 8.
Alvanley’s leading run-scorers
Michael Rowlands – 283 runs @ 35.37
Simon Gee – 235 runs @ 39.16
Ste Charles – 157 runs @ 19.62
Alvanley’s leading wicket-takers
Ste Charles – 15 wickets @ 14.13
Lee Ainsworth – 13 wickets @ 9.00
Ben Tumilty – 10 wickets @ 13.90
Up next for the Alv was a trip to 2011 winners Woodhouses and despite being restricted to 179 with the bat, the Cheshire champions remained in control of a tight encounter, Lee Ainsworth picking up four chase-disrupting wickets as their hosts were bowled out for 148 with two overs to spare.
Rain disrupted their home tie against 2018 champions Folkton & Flixton in the last 16, resulting in a rearranged trip to Scarborough. Alvanley, however, remained unfazed by their opponents, who had bowled Patrington out for 48 in previous round, and having been given a taster of their bowling a week earlier, battered their way to 274 for 9 – their highest score of the tournament. They were equally clinical with the ball, bowling Folkton out for 149 to pull off a shock 125-run win and move to within two wins of Lord’s.
Remaining in Yorkshire for the quarter-finals, Alvanley played out a low-scoring affair with Houghton Main on a tough pitch, successfully defending 128 to set up a last four showdown with Dyfed champions Neyland.
And after slipping to 1 for 2 in a shaky start in South Wales, Alvanley rebuilt with confidence before a 27-run, ninth-wicket partnership between James Ecclestone and Chris Charles propelled them beyond the 180-mark for the fifth time in seven matches. A comfortable defence followed, with Neyland limping to 31 for 4 before a 23rd-over hat-trick from Stephen Charles killed any hope of a successful chase. Alvanley bowled their hosts out for 102 in 33 overs, booking their place in the final with an emphatic 86-run victory.
Interestingly, Alvanley have batted first in all seven matches and have recorded neither a five-for nor a century on the road to Lord’s.
Calmore will play Alvanley at Lord’s in the Voneus Village Cup final on Sunday, September 19, with play scheduled to begin at 11am. Tickets are available here.
Keep up to date with the Voneus Village Cup by following the competition on Twitter (@TheCricketerNVC) and Instagram (@villagecup)
