Sporting Alfas Cricket Club Sporting Alfas 2nd X1 145 for 3 beat Almanzora 141 for 8
The Alfas 2nds met not so bright but very very early to make the trip down to Almanzora for their next league match looking for the win that would keep them top of the table and keep pressure on the opposition teams. With 4 of the team travelling down the night before, some at least would be well rested going into the game.
Arriving at Almanzora, we were all impressed with the pitch, lovely flat grass and a well fitted mat. With Almanzora winning the toss but only having 6 players at the start, their decision was made for them to bat and Alfas took the field but early inroads did not come as hoped. Both openers for Almanzora stood fast in the face of the opening spell and took the score past 30 before the change of bowlers started to work for Alfas.
Waqer got Winter to pop one back to him for a C&B to get the ball rolling. Second change bowler Dell then got new man Stanard to edge behind, Byrne taking it down the leg side. However, Murbasha, after surviving a strong LBW shout, got swinging and with Larkins at the other end put on another 30 before Larkins, trying to direct one with a slight dab through the slips could only end up playing on off Dell.
Shoiab joined Murbasha in the middle and took a liking to the bowling, while Murbasha fell to the next change, young Laundon keeping the ball straight and Murbasha picking out Bash Ali in the covers.
This is when the game went a bit mental……as Samran came out to bat, Shioab having come late to the game, did not know that clearing the fence was a dot ball and not a 6 as he believed. He did however manage to pick out Byrne’s car in the parking lot to lessen his frustration!
At the other end, Samran was enjoying the benefits of Alfas long trip getting dropped 3 times in two overs before a catch was finally held. As the umpire raised his finger and Samran trudged off, Skipper Perman who took the catch showed Alfas play hard but fair and called Samran back, admitting that he touched the fence converting the catch to a 6 and giving Samran another life!
However, after some entertaining fireworks, Laundon had had enough and got Samran to edge behind where he was held and the tail began to enter the fray. Howells hit a couple of quick 4’s before edging behind for Byrne’s 3rd catch of the day. Campy was stumped off Perman for 0 and when last man, actually nº 9 for Almanzora chipped one to K. Perman off J. Perman for 0, Almanzora were all out for 141, including 25 wides!
Following a 30 minute break, Nix and McKinnstry strode out to the middle for Alfas to start the chase. Nix fell early to Murbasha for 8, clipping to Gully, K. Perman came in and played some nice shots for his 18 before he got castled by a straight one after 3 wides.
McKinnstry and Waqer put on 68 for the 3rd wicket before McKinnstry got bowled by a full toss, bringing Byrne hobbling to the wicket a result of the keeper trying to trap a Dell full toss in the first innings instead of using the gloves.
However, it was all Alfas needed and between Waqer and Byrne, they hit the remaining 40 needed to see the game out, Byrne nearly winning the game with a 6 but the ball was adjudged to have cleared the fence rather than, as Waqer repeatedly stated, going through it but two balls later Byrne hit a 4 to close off the match and send Alfas home with full points from the long trip
Alfas MOM – Byrne, 3 catches, 1 stumping and 23*
Sporting Alfas Cricket Club