Wins for GCC and Combined Colleges


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WINS FOR GCCbwin AND COMBINED COLLEGES.

GCCbwin and Combined Colleges CC emerged victorious on Saturday against Calpe CC and Mediterranean CC respectively. Highlights of the week-end were centuries for Kieron Ferrary and Christian Rocca of GCCbwin, a fighting response from Calpe CC, and a nail biting finish in the Combined Colleges-Mediterranean clash.

Run bonanza at Europa.

The match at Europa turned out to be a real run bonanza with no less than 620 runs scored in eighty overs, a rate of 7.75 runs per over. GCCbwin won the toss, opted to bat first, and were given an electric start by Ian Farrell who struck 27 runs off 26 balls before giving Chris Phillips his first victim of the afternoon, Scott Chipolina holding on to a skier. This brought Christian Rocca to the crease to join young Kieron Ferrary, the centurion of two week-ends ago, and these two were soon dominating proceedings against some very loose bowling. At the half-way 20 overs stage the total had progressed to 135/1 with Ferrary already past his half century and Rocca just short of his. The drinks interval brought no change of fortunes for the Calpe bowlers as the second wicket partnership blossomed, although Rocca was dropped twice and Ferrary should have been stumped. Grateful for those reprieves both batsmen sailed merrily past their centuries and when Rocca finally departed, bowled by Phillips for 125, the stand had yielded 252 runs, a new record for this wicket, surpassing the stand of 243 between Rocca and Paul Howard for a GCA XI v Galah CC in July 2001. Ferrary became Phillips’ third victim but not before he had progressed to an impressive 138 and GCC bwin’s final total was a massive 323/5. Philips ended with figures of 3/57.

Seemingly undaunted by the task which lay ahead of them, Mark Bacarese and Scott Chipolina proceeded to treat the GCCbwin with scant respect, 114 runs coming in the opening fourteen overs with the former racing to his half century off just 32 balls. With the total on 122/0 Rudi Phillips was brought into the attack with instant success as he dismissed both openers in the space of five balls. Bacarese was the first to go, caught by Ferrary [in the outfield for a change instead of behind the stumps] for 67, and Chipolina [38] then gave Adam Orfila a simple chance at wide mid off. The game tilted further GCC bwin’s way when Farrell dismissed John Hazell, caught and bowled, and at the twenty overs stage the total stood on 140/3. After the break, Chris Phillips and Kabir Mirpuri set about the task ahead of them, steadily at first then gradually accelerating. They had added 98 runs for the fourth wicket before Phillips was bowled by Orfila for 43 as the batsman went in search of quick runs. This brought Ian Latin to the crease with the asking rate well over ten runs an over. Mirpuri duly reached his half century but went to a fine catch at long on by Ferrary when on 60, and although Latin struck 45 runs off only 27 balls the task before him proved too much and in the end the Calpe total had reached 297/5. Rudi Phillips proved to be GCC bwin’s match winner with figures of 2/34 off his eight overs, as his side went home with nineteen points to Calpe’s seven.

Close contest at the Stadium.

The clash between Mediterranean CC and Combined Colleges at the Victoria Stadium turned out to be a close affair. The former won the toss, opted to bat first, and were given an excellent start by Sam Russell and Chris Watkins, who put on 117 runs for the opening wicket in just 18 overs. The stand was finally broken by Nushan Alwis who bowled Russell when the batsman was eight runs short of his half century and at the twenty overs stage the Mediterranean total stood at a healthy 123/1. Soon afterward, Ashan Alwis struck three times in rapid succession to account for Watkins [74], Josh Hatcher and Steve Cary and Mediterranean seemed in danger of failing to capitalise on their excellent start. Ross Harkins and Steve Martin then staged a partial recovery with a fifth wicket stand of 56, but the dismissal of the former for 39 heralded a remarkable collapse as four wickets tumbled for the addition of only nine runs. Martin remained undefeated on 22 in a final total of 232/9. For Combined Colleges, Ashan Alwis returned figures of 3/39.

Mediterranean CC seemed well on the way to a comfortable victory as their opponents lost four wickets with only 81 runs on the board. Opener Adam Winter, however, was batting well at one end and in Paul Harris he finally found a worthy partner as these two added 72 runs for the fifth wicket before Cary accounted for Winter who was then on 43. The innings momentum continued as Chris Harris joined his brother and these two brought victory closer and closer with a partnership of 72. In the 39th. over and with five runs required for victory Russell held on to a return catch to account for Chris Harris [49], and Watkins bowled Mark Ward with the first ball of the 40th. over. Watkins then bowled a wide which went for two and this brought Paul Harris to the receiving end. He promptly hit the next ball for three and his side were home with four balls to spare.

Next week.

Two more Senior League matches are scheduled for next Saturday, after which the domestic season takes a short break as the under nineteens compete in Jersey in the European Championships Division two. At the Victoria Stadium Calpe CC take on Combined Colleges whilst at Europa GCCbwin face Mediterranean CC. Both matches are scheduled to start at 11.00am.