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Kendall Cup 2006 Report
The 81st Kendall Cup was played at the Oporto Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club over the weekend 2nd/3rd September. Traditionally, this is a two innings two day fixture, played annually and alternately, in Oporto and in Lisbon. This year it should have been played in Lisbon, but due to the unaffordability of the Carcavelos field at St. Julian’s for a two day fixture, saw the Cup played in Oporto once again this year. Oeiras Cricket Club had been invited by Oporto to challenge for the trophy won by Oporto last year. This year’s game saw Lisbon regaining the trophy, with Lisbon achieving an unexpected victory, after two days of entertaining and exciting cricket, involving some of the younger players in Portuguese cricket.
Saturday was a clear day in Oporto and the Lisbon team won the toss and elected to bat, but were soon in trouble. By lunch they were on 95 runs for 6 wickets, with only Paulo Buccimazza (31) and Jitesh Balkrishna (26) managing to get into double figures. After lunch 2 partnerships - 34 for the 7th wicket, between Ben Crosse(36), playing in his 1st Kendall Cup, and Ricardo Pais, and 45 for the 8th wicket, between Pais(58) and Carlo Buccimazza(18), helped Lisbon to a respectable total of 190. Pais, in particular attacked the bowling, his 58 runs coming off 64 deliveries, his half century off 61 deliveries in 76 minutes. All the Oporto bowlers faired well, with minimal extras, the wickets being taken by Mark Weeks (4 for 34), Ali (2 for 23) and the rest shared by Premel Ranjani, Johnny Graham, Max Graham and Quazir. In reply Oporto lost early wickets and were also soon in trouble (18 for 3) until James Burgess came to the crease to add some respectability to proceedings. By the close of play Oporto were 104 for 8, having avoided the follow-on, with Burgress (61) back in the pavilion, his half century coming up in 93 minutes and off 73 deliveries, the match interestingly poised.
Sunday was another clear day, and the Oporto tail frustratingly lasted a further 43 minutes adding a further 15 runs, ending on 119, giving Lisbon a 71 run lead. The wickets were shared by Ricardo Antunes (3 for 25), Ricardo Pais(3 for 21), Paulo Buccimazza (2 for 23), and Jitesh Balkrishna and Hassan Shazad with one a piece. Oeiras started their 2nd innings well, with Rankine and Crosse(24) attacking the bowling from the start, putting on 60 for the 1st wicket. Shahzad(23) and Balkrishna(12) supported Rankine, undefeated on 67, and with 134 runs on the board at lunch, declared, with a lead of 205. Oporto despite loosing two early wickets, a 3rd wicket partnership of 48 between Qaizer and Burgess(28), and a 4th wicket stand of 73 between Quazir and Premel Rajani (29), frustrated the Lisbon bowlers, 8 bowlers being used in an attempt to break the partnerships. Before the fall of the 4th wicket, with 148 runs on the board and 20 odd overs to spare, Oporto instead of looking for a draw to retain the trophy, sensed a possible victory. The fall of the 4th wicket changed all that, with the remaining 6 wickets yielding only a further 17 runs, Lisbon winning by 30 runs and regaining the trophy. The four wicket takers for Oeiras were Carlo Buccimazza (4 for 24), Hassan Shahzad (3 for 32), Ricardo Pais (2 for 27) and Ricardo Antunes (1 for 25).
© Portuguese Cricket Federation
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