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Gibraltar at the World Cricket League
TJF
GIBRALTAR UNDER ACHIEVE IN GUERNSEY
The Gibraltar team which recently took part in the World Cricket League Division 7 arrived in Guernsey strongly fancied to do well. However, after a very promising start against the host nation, things did not go quite to plan, the result being relegation to Division 8 next year.
Gibraltar v Bahrain.
Gibraltar opened its cricket league venture on the 17th. May with an encounter against Bahrain at the KGV cricket ground in Guernsey. Bahrain won the toss and decided to bat first, their two openers making a steady start, putting on 33 runs in the opening six overs before heavy rain put a stop to proceedings. When play resumed 45 minutes later, Gibraltar struck four quick blows to send the Bahrain total tumbling to 52/4 before rain again disrupted play, this time for good as the match had to be abandoned after that.
Gibraltar v Guernsey.
The following day saw the Gibraltar team travelling to Port Soif to face the tournament favourites Guernsey. Losing the toss once again they were put into bat and lost the wicket of Mark Bacarese with 13 runs on the board. Ian Farrell and Kieron Ferrary then featured in a second wicket stand of 46 before the former was trapped leg before for 15. Richard Buzaglo then joined Ferrary and runs flowed as the pair put on a further 68 runs before Buzaglo was caught behind for 35. There followed a mini collapse as three wickets tumbled for the addition of only 11 runs but Ferrary stood firm and seemed destined for his century only to perish when 10 runs short of that target. However, Ian Latin (42) and Kabir Mirpuri (15) kept the momentum going with an unbroken eighth wicket partnership of 56 to take the score along to a very respectable 227/7 at the end of the allotted fifty overs.
Ross Harkins struck an early blow dismissing one of Guernsey’s openers with the total on 16, but Lee Savident and Jeremy Frith (two former professional cricketers) put on 89 runs for the second wicket. Chris Watkins then struck a vital blow for his side, bowling Savident (53) and Rex Purnell accounted for Frith (36) 24 runs later. When Watkins claimed his second victim with the total on 155, Gibraltar were favourites to cause a major upset, but the Guernsey skipper, Stuart LePrevost and Ben Ferbrache then tilted the game their side’s way with a fifth wicket stand of 39. Harkins then brought hope back for his side dismissing both batsmen in consecutive overs, but Guernsey managed to reach their target with three balls to spare. Kieron Ferrary was awarded the Man of the Match award.
Gibraltar v Bahrain.
The 19th. May should have been a rest day but given the abandonment of the opening match it was back to the KGV ground to again face Bahrain. Bahrain won the toss, opted to bat first and were soon struggling against some fine bowling from Iain Latin and Kabir Mirpuri. After eighteen overs, the batting side found themselves staring defeat in the face with five wickets down and the total on 65. Hanif Adil and Saed Qamar then featured in a sixth wicket partnership of 56, and when the latter fell to Watkins, Tahir Dar helped Hanif Adil put on a further 74 runs to transform the entire aspect of the game. Hanif eventually ended undefeated on 92 and Dar made 40 to bring the final total to 235/9. For Gibraltar, Mirpuri returned figured of 3/27, Purnell took 2/47 and Latin 2/44.
Gibraltar made a disastrous start to their innings, losing two wickets with only 11 runs on the board and the rest of the batting contributed little as the side was skittled out for 98. It had been a disappointing end to a day which earlier had promised so much.
Gibraltar v Nigeria.
There was to be no respite for the Gibraltar players as they faced their third match in as many days, the opposition this time being Nigeria. Batting first, the Nigerians amassed a total of 217/8 in their fifty overs, thanks to a number of dropped catches; fatigue was beginning to take its toll! Outstanding bowler for Gibraltar was Kabir Mirpuri who returned figures of 6/61. Once again, Gibraltar was let down by the failure of their top order to lay any kind of foundation and at one stage the total had slumped to 57/5. Only rearguard actions by Mirpuri (39) and Latin (22) enabled the side to reach a total of 129 in 42 overs.
Gibraltar v Suriname.
After a much-needed rest day, the opponents on the 21st. May were Suriname. Losing the toss and being put in to bat, Gibraltar put up a much better display, thanks to contributions of 50 from skipper Christian Rocca , an undefeated 40 from Chris Phillips, and 38 from Ian Farrell, which enabled the side to reach 218/8 off their allotted fifty overs. Latin was mainly instrumental in the dismissal of Suriname for 179 with a six wicket haul (6/23), and this earned him the Man of the Match award. A victory had been achieved at last!
Gibraltar v Japan.
After another rest day, Gibraltar faced Japan in what was a crucial contest as the losers would be destined to finish in the bottom two positions and relegation to Division Eight. Japan batted first and yet again Gibraltar failed to capitalise on a good start as they had the Japanese struggling on 77/4 and then 103/5. However a fine 69 from P J Giles-Jones enabled the team to reach a total of 227/8. Only Farrell (33) of the top order made a worthwhile contribution and it was left to the middle order, Phillips (37), Richard Buzaglo (25 not out) and Latin (20) to give Gibraltar some hope, but in the end the side was dismissed for 198. It was very despondent squad which returned to the hotel that evening!
Gibraltar v Suriname.
So it was a play-off for fifth and sixth place as the team again faced Suriname. Suriname won the toss, chose to bat first and were given a whirlwind start by Vishual Singh and Troy Dudnath who flayed the Gibraltar attack putting on 127 runs in the opening 21 overs before Charlie Harrison claimed the former’s scalp for 47. Dudnath continued on his merry way reaching a personal 130 (seven sixes) before being dismissed and Suriname had posted the daunting target of 300.
Gibraltar lost the early wicket of Farrell before Steven Gonzalez and Christian Rocca featured in a second wicket stand of 59. When the former was bowled for 21, Ian Latin joined his captain in a partnership of 74, during the course of which Rocca reached his second half century of the tour. However, he was dismissed soon after and when two wickets went cheaply it seemed to be all over for Gibraltar However, Latin continued to strike the ball and so long as he remained at the wicket there was hope for his side. With the total on 167 and 29 overs gone and an asking rate of just over six an over, Latin finally hit one straight to deep mid off with his personal tally on 73. Phillips (33) and Mirpuri (46 not out) kept the momentum going and at the end of the allotted overs the total had reached 292/9, just nine runs short of the required target. At last, Gibraltar had shown some fighting spirit!
Conclusion.
And so ended a tour which at times had promised so much but which ended in so much disappointment.
© Gibraltar Cricket Association
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