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Kendall Cup 2007 Report
The 82nd Kendall Cup was played at the Oporto Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club over the weekend 8th/9th September. Traditionally, this two innings two day fixture, is played annually and alternately, in Oporto and in Lisbon. This year it should have been played in Lisbon, but due to various commitments the Oporto team requested that the Cup be played in Oporto once again this year. Oeiras Cricket Club had invited Oporto to challenge for the trophy won by the Lisbon team last year. This year’s game saw the Lisbon team retaining the trophy, with Lisbon achieving an comfortable victory, after two days of entertaining and exciting cricket, involving some of the younger players in Portuguese cricket.
Saturday was a misty day in Oporto and the Lisbon team won the toss and elected to field, and Oporto were soon in trouble, with Mark Weeks (0) caught behind in the 2nd over from young Ricardo Antunes. By lunch they were on 68 runs for 3 wickets, with only Qaiser (33) and Freddie Cobb (65) managing to get into double figures. The first over after lunch saw Qaiser back in the pavilion and after that only a partnership of 68 for the 6th wicket between Cobb and Max Graham (25) helped Oporto to a respectable total of 166 by tea. The Oeiras bowlers faired well, with minimal extras, the wickets being taken by Ricardo Antunes (5 for 37), Carlo Buccimazza (3 for 29) and Ricardo Pais (2 for 31). In reply Oeiras too were soon in trouble, losing 2 early wickets, but a 3rd wicket partnership of 72 between Ben Crosse (28) and Jitesh Balkrishna (40) added some respectability to their innings. Before the close of play two more wickets fell for a further 9 runs, before Ricardo Pais joined Balkrishna steering the total to 23 runs short of the Oporto total by the close, with Pais being the aggressor, scoring 41 off 22 deliveries.
Sunday was a clear day, and the Oeiras pair continued to dominate putting on 137 for the 6th wicket with Balkrisha (84) and Pais (92) being dismissed in quick succession. The Oeiras tail did not wag, finishing on 249 before lunch. The Oporto bowlers shared the spoils with Max Graham (3 for 38), Dave Butcher (2 for 32) and Qaiser, Premel Rajani and Thomas Rogerson taking a wicket a piece. The Oporto 2nd innings started disastrously with Ricardo Antunes taking 2 wickets in the fourth over, leaving Oporto on 11 for 2 at lunch. The first two overs after the lunch break produced 2 more wickets for the addition of only 2 runs. A steady collapse followed with only young Thomas Rogerson (20), playing in his first Kendall Cup getting into double figures. Oporto finished on 53 before tea, giving Oeiras a comfortable victory by and innings and 30 runs, retaining the trophy for another year. The wickets were shared by Ricardo Antunes (3 for 9), Ricardo Pais(3 for 18), Carlo Buccimazza (2 for 21) and Paulo Buccimazza (2 for 0).
© Portuguese Cricket Federation
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