Photo © ECC

The Adam Hollioake charity cyclists and their friends finally made it to a rather damp Europa Oval on Monday morning for their long-awaited encounter against a Gibraltar XI in a twenty overs match. Not even the persistent rain could dampen the occasion as both sides fought a closely contested game.

Batting first, the Hollioake XI lost the wicket of John Hollioake in the very first over, after which former County cricketers Ian Sutcliffe and Matt Church added 68 runs for the second wicket. The former was then bowled by Tony Bircham, bringing Adam Hollioake to the crease, and the small band of spectators waited in anticipation of what would follow. With the total on 93 and 13 overs gone, Church (42) lofted Paul Grant to long off where Steven Gonzalez took the catch comfortably. The visitors then lost wickets cheaply in the search for an acceleration of the run-rate, including that of Adam Hollioake for 27 to another fine deep field catch by Gonzalez. At the end of the allotted twenty overs, the total stood on 128/6. Gary De'Ath was the most successful bowler with figures of 3/32, whilst Gonzalez, Bircham and Grant took a wicket apiece.

Photo © ECC

Christian Rocca and Mark Bacarese gave the local side a solid start with a stand of 59, but the entry of Adam Hollioake into the attack immediately paid dividends as he clattered Bacarese's stumps with his second ball. When Rocca was adjudged leg before to John Hollioake for 40 and Karan Aswani was caught behind off the same bowler, the local innings seemed to be tottering a little. Steven Gonzalez and Richard Buzaglo took the total along past the three figures mark before the former was run out for 21 in a terrible mix-up, which brought Roy Rodgers to the crease, and excitement mounted as the overs began to slip away and the Gibraltar total got nearer and nearer to its target. As the final over came to be bowled, by Matt Church, the batting side required four runs for victory.

Three singles came from the first three balls and the fourth one was a dot ball. Scores level with two balls to go! A scrambled single off the fifth ball ensured victory for the Gibraltar XI and brought to a close a fine contest played in the best spirit of the game. For the visitors, John Hollioake returned figures of 2/20 and Adam Hollioake 2/31.

Ladbrokes International sponsored the game for £2000, which went to the Chase Charity for which the whole exercise was staged.