National Village Cup regional semi-final cricket: Southern Vipers teenage star Eve O’Neill captures five wickets for losing Calmore Sports

National Village Cup regional semi-final

Ventnor CC 170

Calmore Sports CC 129

SIXTEEN-year-old Southern Vipers starlet Eve O’Neill had Ventnor in a spin, taking five wickets for Calmore Sports in the National Village Cup county semi-final at Steephill.

O’Neill took 5-26 in an impressive 7.3 over spell, removing four front-line Ventnor batsmen before the islanders reached a match-winning total of 170, which proved too much for the 2021 Lord’s winners, who were dismissed for 129, writes Mike Vimpany.

Bowling her leg spin from the sea end of the ground, O’Neill trapped Dan Cox (13) LBW and had top-scorer Henry Bartlett (45) caught before bemusing and bowling Hugh Calloway.

Ventnor were 87-4 at that stage, but almost doubled their total through fifth-wicket pair Martin Blackman (50) and teenager Sam Mills (25).

When Mark Lavelle (3-31) bowled Mills, Ventnor collapsed, losing their last six wickets for 12 runs, with Ventnor skipper Ben Woodhouse, who was stumped, being another victim for O’Neill.

Calmore, fielding only two players who lifted the Village Cup three seasons ago, sank to 20-4 – former Lymington off-spinner Cox (4-20) making early inroads – and were dismissed for 129.

Sam Dempster, who hit the match-winning six off the last ball of Calmore’s previous round win at Hursley Park, top scored with 40 runs.