GCCbwin in surprise defeat


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GCCbwin maintain lead despite surprise defeat.

GCCbwin continue to hold a healthy lead at the top of the Senior League table despite going down surprisingly to Mediterranean CC on Saturday. On the previous week-end, Combined Colleges recorded their second victory of the season against Mediterranean CC.

Colleges triumph over Mediterranean CC.

Combined Colleges faced Mediterranean CC at Europa on Saturday the 25th. August in what might have been termed a bottom of the table clash. Batting first, the men from the Costa were given an electric start by Mark Ward and Cliff Knezovich, who put on 86 runs for the first wicket in just under nine overs before the former was bowled by Keith Campbell. The same bowler struck again nine runs later after which Nushan Alwis struck a few hefty blows (two sixes and two fours) before being bowled by newcomer Jamie Rickard for 26. Rickard then dismissed Kevin Nolan without addition to the total and when Campbell claimed his third victim of the afternoon to get rid of the dangerous Knezovich, then on 65, and Richard accounted for another wicket, the Combined Colleges innings was in danger of collapse at 132/6. A rearguard innings from Fernando Shard (22), however, enabled the total to progress to 165/8 before the side was all out in the 25th. over. Campbell returned figures of 3/33 and Rickard 3/32.

Mediterranean CC lost the early wicket of Wahid, before N White (29) and Sam Russell (31) put on 62 runs for the second wicket. Both then went in quick succession, and this heralded a mini collapse as a further two wickets tumbled for the addition on one run. Much of Mediterranean’s hopes were then pinned on their skipper, Chris Watkins, and when Nushan Alwis disturbed his stumps the game was as good as over, the final total being 147 in 30.1 overs. For Combined Colleges, Ashan Alwis took 3/45, his brother Nushan 3/33, Ronnie Bates 2/31 and Shrard 2/34. Combined Colleges went home with sixteen points to Mediterranean’s five bowling points.

GCCbwin falter.

The match between top of the table GCCbwin and bottom club Mediterranean CC looked a good win bet for the former but things panned out somewhat differently. Batting first, GCCbwin made a terrible start, losing their first five wickets with only 36 runs on the board, and it was left to veterans Christian Rocca and Gary De’Ath to come to their rescue. These two featured in a sixth wicket stand of 119 before De’Ath was bowled by Wahid when one short of his half century. Rocca went ten runs later, leg before to Chris Watkins for 69, and at the end of the forty overs, the total stood on 187/9. For the fielding side another newcomer, Rayeez, returned figures of 3/25 and there were two wickets apiece for Wahid and Steve Cary.

Sam Russell (57) and Vikram Khatwani (29) got their side off to a flying start with a partnership of 93 in just fourteen overs before De’Ath accounted for both of them in the space of two overs. De’Ath struck a third blow, bowling Ainsworth, and when a further two wickets fell for the addition of only fifteen runs, Mediterranean CC were struggling on 127/5. Watkins and Cary then came to their rescue with a sixth wicket stand of 50 and when Sebastian Suarez finally bowled the former for 42, the game was as good was won. Cary remained undefeated on 28 as Mediterranean CC coasted home with 5.2 overs to spare. For GCCbwin, De’Ath rounded of a fine all-round performance wit figures of 3/19. Mediterranean CC took sixteen points from the game to GCCbwin’s four.