Calmore old-boy Draper returns to taunt pals

Paul Draper marked his return to his old Loperwood Park haunts in devastating fashion, scoring an unbeaten 88 to steer South Wilts, his new club, to a seven-wicket win over ECB Southern Electric Premier League rivals Calmore Sports.

It was a masterful knock by Draper, on the eve of his 30th birthday, against the club he originally joined as a 13-year old colt in 1985 but left - over 4,000 Southern League runs later - at the end of last season.

Draper, pacing his innings to perfection and seldom wasting a run scoring opportunity, struck ten boundaries in a chance less knock which, in the end, carried the visitors past Calmore's hard fought 186-8 with some comfort.

"It was an odd experience playing against guys with whom I'd shared a dressing room for so many years," he confessed.

"But I got a tremendous reception from all the Calmore players during the game and went out and celebrated my birthday with most of them in town afterwards.

"It just goes to show we are still really good mates, even though I've gone elsewhere to play my cricket."

Although Draper's unbeaten innings was to prove a match winner, Calmore's fate was largely inevitable after the first hour's play.

Calmore, sent in on a damp surface and under grey skies, lost their first four wickets for only 14 runs to the twin left-arm pace attack of teenage Hampshire prospect James Tomlinson (2-22) and South African Shaun Adam (2-26).

The lateral movement the pair enjoyed made batting very uncomfortable, although shot selection, rather than any gremlins in the pitch, accounted for Tom Pegler, James Hibberd and, at a sorry 29-5, Clive Surry too.

But, just when it appeared Calmore might fold like the proverbial pack of cards, a rescue package was parcelled together.

Not for the first time in his brief career, Hampshire Under-19 all-rounder Paul Cass demonstrated an uncanny ability to shine when the chips are down - primarily through sheer guts and determination.

Cass, 18, who spent the past winter in Hermanus, near Cape Town, is the sort of guy you would relish alongside you in the trenches. He is a battler.

And, with Dave Rouse a staunch sixth-wicket ally, battle he did, leading a wholesome rally which yielded 68 precious runs to the Calmore cause.

The pair both chanced their arm - South Wilts squandering several wicket-taking opportunities in the process - before Rouse (37) was eventually well taken by Draper, over his right shoulder.

Arguably the magic moment of the partnership came when Cass, playing crisply through the "V", gorged 11 runs off one over from the returning Tomlinson, whose other nine overs had cost only 11 runs !

Conditions for batting had considerably eased as the injured Stuart Bailey, with Pegler as a scampering runner, added a further 58 with Cass (59), who celebrated a richly deserved maiden Premier League half-century before becoming Draper's solitary victim.

Bailey (45) struck out lustily before the Durban-based Adam grabbed his third wicket off the final ball of Calmore's 186-8.

Christof Bothma, capped by South Africa at Under-19 level in 1999, didn't make life all together comfortable at the start of the South Wilts reply.

Using his height effectively, the Free State right-arm paceman removed Russell Rowe and Jamie Glasson with balls that held up after going through the top surface.

But, like Calmore's seven other bowlers, he was unable to budge Draper, whose third-wicket partnership with Jon Nash decided the contest.

Draper, relishing every minute and every ball of the joust with his former team-mates, reigned supreme, while Nash (37), back in the Bemerton fold after gaining a First Class Honours mathematics degree at Loughborough, underlined his potential with a polished supporting knock.

But the time they were parted at 134-3, the game was almost up for Calmore, who looked a well beaten side long before Draper completed his triumphant 88-run vigil with a couple of overs to spare.