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GCC FALTER BUT STILL TOP THE LEAGUE.

GCC lost for the first time in the Caleta Hotel League on Saturday against an almost full strength Calpe CC side, but still hold a healthy lead at the top of the table.    In the other match played over the week-end, Grammarians staged a remarkable recovery to win against PGCC.   Highlights of the week-end’s action included a five wicket haul for Bob Brooks of GCC, a fighting but in the end fruitless 90 by Christian Rocca of the same club, an innings of 96 by Aldrin Silva of PGCC, and a match-winning stand of 111 by Charlie Harrison and Richard Buzaglo of Grammarians.

Calpe CC dent GCC’s unbeaten record.

Calpe CC batted first at the Victoria Stadium on Saturday and after the loss of an early wicket, Steven Gonzalez and Chris Phillips put on 57 runs  before Brooks struck to dismiss Phillips for 22 and Gonzalez for 44.   Karan Aswani (20), Iain Latin (27) and John Hazell (25) all made good starts before getting out, and in the end Calpe were dismissed for 200 in 48.5 overs.   Brooks returned figures of 5/32 and Adam Orfila took 3/45.

GCC made a horrendous start to their reply, losing six wickets with only 42 runs on the board, the main destroyer being Ross Harkins who claimed four of the GCC top order.   Rocca, coming in unusually late at number five, did his best to rally his troops, but none of the lower order managed to get into double figures, and despite Rocca’s valiant 90, GCC were all out for 150 in just 36.4 overs.   Harkins (4/25), Aswani (3/19) and Phillips (3/34) were the architects of Calpe’s victory.    Calpe went home with 18 points to GCC’s 7.

Grammarians come back from the brink of defeat.

PGCC batted first at Europa on Saturday and lost two early wickets before Hetal Shah and Gautam Prabhu steadied the ship.   However, the entry of Kabir Mirpuri and Charlie Harrison into the attack proved effective in checking the run rate and claiming wickets at the same time.   Only Aldrin D’Silva seemed capable of keeping the spinners out, his 96 being the main reason why PGCC were able to post the respectable total of 193 in 43.2 overs.  Mirpuri took 3/28, Harrison 2/29 and Ryan Gonzalez mopped up the tail with figures of 3/40.

Mirpuri and George Shacaluga gave Grammarians a solid start with a stand of 40 before both departed in quick succession and when three further wickets fell for the addition of only 28 runs, Grammarians were suddenly facing defeat in the face.   At that point Harrison (48) and Buzaglo (51) came together and they gradually turned the game their side’s way, eventually passing PGCC’s total in the 41^st. over.   Grammarians took 17 points from the game to PGCC’s 4.

Next Week.

The Gibraltar Cricket Association will be staging its annual National Day six-a-side tournament next Saturday at the Europa Oval.  Further details of this will be published as soon as they become available.    On Sunday Calpe CC face UKCCC in a second round (40 overs) Caleta Hotel League match, starting at 11.30am.