Senior League gets off the ground.


	Cricket Gibraltar Official site of the Gibraltar Cricket Association

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TJF

SENIOR LEAGUE GETS UNDER WAY.

The GCA Senior league got under way on Saturday with victories for Calpe CC and GCCbwin over Mediterranean CC and Combined Colleges respectively. Calpe’s win at the Victoria Stadium was a relatively comfortable one against a depleted Mediterranean side, but the match at Europa turned out to be an exciting contest which went right down to the wire.

Mediterranean CC pick up after slow start.

Mediterranean CC won the toss, opted to bat first and got off to a very slow start, only seventeen runs coming from the opening eight overs. In the thirteenth over, Karan Sadhwani bowled Vikram Khatwani with the total on 44, and this brought Chris Watkins to the crease. There ensued a partnership of 124, Watkins being very severe on Calpe’s slow bowlers, whilst at the other end Sam Russell was the perfect foil, playing an anchor role. The thirtieth over proved crucial as Chris Phillips, back for his second spell, finally disposed of Russell for 55 and Vishal Kainth was run out in the same over. This exposed the fragile Mediterranean tail and although Watkins eventually reached his century the total at the end of the allotted forty overs had only reached 201/6. For Calpe CC, Phillips returned the impressive figures of 2/11 off his eight overs, and young Karan Sadhwani continues to improve with figures of 2/27.

Calpe CC cruise home.

Calpe CC, now with almost a full squad after the return of the university students, started off well, Kabir Mirpuri and Scott Chipolina putting on 54 for the first wicket in thirteen overs before the former was bowled by Steve Martin for 36. Iain Latin then joined Chipolina and he set about the bowling in no uncertain terms, striking 59 runs off just 39 balls. At the other end, fifteen year old Chipolina continued to show how much he has improved over the last twelve months, also reaching his half century, as the second wicket stand yielded 128 runs. Both went in rapid succession with the match well in the bag, Chipolina striking 42 runs in seventeen balls before being bowled for 89. Calpe then lost the wicket of John Hazell run out but by then victory was assured as the side finished on 203/4 off 29.5 overs. Calpe went home with sixteen point to Mediterranean’s six.

Fine Combined Colleges opening stand.

Combined Colleges won the toss, chose to occupy the crease first, and Chris Harris and Cliff Knezovich proceeded to treat the GCCbwin attack with scant respect putting on 120 runs in the opening twenty overs without being parted. The mid-innings break saw a change of fortunes as Rudi Phillips struck twice in the 21st. over to dispose of Knezovich (82) and Nushan Alwis for a duck and when three further wickets tumbled for the addition of just 38 runs, the Combined Colleges innings seemed in threat of collapse. However, Harris was still there and in Mick Berger he found a worthwhile partner, their partnership being worth 54 runs, as the side finished on 216/5, with Harris on 64 and Berger on 32. For GCCbwin, there were two wickets apiece for Charlie Harrison and Phillips.

Nail biting finish.

GCCbwin looked down and out as they lost their first four wickets with only 76 runs on the board. Steven Gonzalez and Chris Allan then pulled the game their side’s way with a fifth wicket stand of 73, before the former was bowled when five short of his century. Allan continued to hold the fort but wickets continued to tumble around him, and when he went for 34, well caught on the mid-wicket boundary the match appeared to have slipped away from his side’s grasp. As the last batsman, Paul Grant, walked to the crease to join Harrison, GCCbwin still required nineteen runs with four overs left, and there were some anxious faces in the pavilion. Against all the odds, Harrison managed to hit thirteen runs which, together with some unforgivable wides brought victory home with one over to spare. GCCbwin took fifteen points from the game to Combined Colleges’ eight.

Next week.

The Senior League continues in full swing next Saturday, with Combined Colleges taking no Mediterranean CC at the Victoria Stadium, and GCCbwin facing Calpe CC at Europa. Both matches are scheduled to start at 11.00am.

-TJF