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GCC open with a comprehensive win
TJF
GCC OPEN WITH COMPREHENSIVE WIN.
GCC, winners of the Wiggins/Benrimoj Shield for the past three seasons, opened their 2008 account with a comprehensive nine wicket victory over Mediterranean CC. Their main match winners were Steven Gonzalez and Christian Rocca who featured in an unbroken second wicket partnership of 181. As was the case last season, each side batted for fifteen overs alternatively.
Steady start by Mediterranean CC.
Mediterranean CC won the toss, opted to bat first and were given a reasonable start by Ian Farrell and Richard Buzaglo, who put on 32 runs in the opening five overs. Farrell was then caught by Rocca off the bowling of Gonzalez and 16 runs later Buzaglo was run out. Greg Harris and John Hazell then added a further 40 runs before the first fifteen overs were completed with the total on 88/2.
GCC keep up with the required rate.
Despite losing the early wicket of Kieron Ferrary, caught behind by Buzaglo off the bowling of Joss Hatcher, Gonzalez and Rocca managed to keep up with the asking rate and at the end of their fifteen overs the total stood on 82/1.
Harkins dominates.
When Mediterranean CC resumed their innings, Harris and Hazell took the score along just past the three figure mark before both departed in quick succession. However, it was Ross Harkins who then dominated proceedings, hitting an unbeaten 71 off just 35 balls, including six huge sixes, thereby enabling his side to reach respectability on 204/7.
Gonzalez and Rocca steer GCC to victory.
The final session of play undoubtedly belonged to Gonzalez and Rocca as they both defied all efforts to dislodge them and in the process bringing home victory with one over to spare. Gonzalez ended on 89 not out and Rocca on 77 not out as GCC went home with fifteen points to Mediterranean CC’s two.
Next week.
There are two Wiggins/Benrimoj Shield matches scheduled for next week-end. On Saturday, Calpe CC take on Mediterranean CC whilst on the Sunday Combined Colleges open their account against GCC. Both matches are scheduled to start at 11.30am.
Meanwhile, the twenty overs league gets under way on Tuesday when Commanders take on Hassans whilst Hercules face Night Owls on Wednesday.
The Benrimoj Memorial Match.
Friday saw the unveiling of a plaque at Europa in memory of the late Eleazar Benrimoj (Benny) by his son Joe. A good number of past and present cricketers attended the ceremony. This was followed by a twenty overs match between over 35 and under 35 selections in which the younger elements proved too strong for their older counterparts . The under 35’s batted first and totalled 142/7, with contributions of 33 by Kieron Ferrary and 30 by John Hazell. For the “veterans”, Adrian Hewitt bowled a remarkable over in which he took three wickets at a cost of three runs!
The over 35’s were never in the hunt and ended on 99/7, but the occasion mattered more than the result on the day, and everyone enjoyed an excellent barbecue after the match!
TJF.
© Gibraltar Cricket Association
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