A TOPSY-TURVY showdown was grabbed by the scruff of the neck by Nomansland, who scrambled home by one wicket against Calmore thirds in Regional West 2.

Calmore were blitzed early on and were 4-3 after three overs, and 15 for four in the sixth, with Sam Dempster and Terry Harrison doing the damage.

Kane Stanton (24) and Tom Pattison steadied the ship but the visitors slipped again to 62-7. Pattison was still there however, and shared in stands of 52 with Mark Gilmore (19) and 48 with Callum Bailey 21 not out) to give Calmore hope.

Pattison was eventually out for an excellent 53 as Calmore posted174. Sam Dempster, with a personal best of 5-36, was the pick of the attack, well supported by Terry Harrison (2-42) and a wicket apiece for Rich Dempster and Gary Loveless. Nomansland caught some sharp catches, but wides again were a problem as they bowled 29 of them.

Sam Dempster (18) and Loveless (23) started the reply in a hurry, 31 coming from the first three overs. They both departed but Terry Harrison with an aggressive 25 kept up the momentum. Wickets then fell rapidly and Nomansland found themselves in deep trouble at 99-7 in the 16th over. With so many overs left it needed cool heads to right the situation, and Simon Smith started the revival accompanied by Mark Rowland (10), in a stand of 31. James Mason joined Smith and added a further 32 before Smith (32) nicked one behind with 14 still needed. Ben Westhead (5 not out) joined Mason (20 not out) and they knocked off the runs to clinch a dramatic win.