CONGRATULATIONS TO MENORCA CRICKET CLUB ON WINNING THIS YEARS BALEARIC CUP
13/05/16 Menorca vs Ibiza 40 overs per side.
Ibiza skipper Graham Boe won the toss and chose to field first, wanting to put pressure on the Menorca batsmen at once. Thus opener Andy Tyso fell first with the score on 30 , before young all rounder James Davies (38) and Dave Catterall (29) combined well to increase the scoring rate. But when both departed soon after each other, the score was on 87/3 off 20 overs, and then 103/4, and Ibiza felt that they had a chance to reduce the hosts further.
However, Menorca batsman Adam Cockcroft started his innings aggressively and built a crucial 128 run stand with veteran Jeff Barker (41 not out); Adam rode his luck several times, with top edges just missing fielders, but survived to score an unbeaten 101 and allow Menorca to complete their 40 overrs on an imposing 231/4.
Ibiza’s problems were compounded by one of their opening bowlers, Pete Essex, injuring a hamstring in his first over and having to leave the field. This obviously put pressure on Ibiza bowlers Paul Cruttwell, Johnno Gordon, Mike Amos and Graeme Cooper, who all contributed a wicket, but were unable to break the partnership.
So Ibiza now needed to score at 6 runs per over, and were themselves put under pressure by accurate Menorca bowling and alert fielding. In fact, several wickets fell early and only Sam Gooda (22) and Tim Stacey (17) reached double figures until Brad van Byleveldt came to bat and scored a defiant 41 to increase the scoring rate.
Ibiza felt the loss of their injured player keenly, and no batsman was allowed to settle by Menorca, so that the visitors continued to lose wickets and eventually subsided to 124 all out in the 34th over, Menorca running out deserved winners by 107 runs. The hosts bowlers Tim Hayden (2/25), Dave Catterall (3/18) and Jeff Barker( 4/16) did the damage, while veteran Ted Williams (recently selected to play for the England over 70s against Australia over 70s!) obtained 1/27.
14/05/16 Mallorca vs Ibiza 40 overs per side.
Today Ibiza batted first and openers Sam Gooda (28) and Tim Stacey (40) set up a solid platform, allowing Ibiza to reach 75/1 off the first 20 overs. Johnno Gordon (16) got a good start before being bowled and Graeme Cooper struck some welcome boundaries in his 33 before being well caught, but then Ibiza keenly felt the loss of 2 main batsmen Brad van Byleveldt and Pete Essex, the former also injured while playing the day before and unable to participate today.
Ibiza were faltering at 142/6 with the tail to come and the 2 main Mallorca fast bowlers to finish off the remaining 6 overs. But Paul Partridge hit some useful boundaries in his 18 not out, and along with an extras count of 26, Ibiza were able to finish on 172/6, a defendable but not imposing total. Mallorca bowlers Wes Walker (2/35), Ben Vickers (2/26) and Asian newcomer Rizwan (2/18) were the wicket takers.
Mallorca batsmen Yaseen (44 not out) and another Asian newcomer Pavan (34) made a good start and the first wicket to fall came at 56 off 10 overs, so the required run rate was maintained. Ben Vickers then struck a typically aggressive 34 before being well caught behind, but Mallorca were well on track at 103/3 off 20 overs. Asian Rizwan then hit a rapid 30 to bring the score to 149/ 4, with Mallorca only needing 24 runs more with 10 overs in hand.
With the experienced opener Yaseen still batting and joined by yet another Asian player Zesham, Ibiza were unable to get another wicket and prevent Mallorca reaching 176/4 in the 37th over, and winning the match by 6 wickets. Ibiza bowler Mike Amos obtained 2/31, while Paul Cruttwell and Jeremy Parmenter contributed a wicket each. Ibiza had performed better overall than the day before, and one wonders what they could have done with their full team competing and scoring over 200 runs, but this year it was not to be and they ran out losing both games for the first time in 5 years (2011). The Balearic cup final would therefore be played out in the Sunday game.
Balearic Cup Final Result:
Menorca 254/8 (James Davies 50, Dave Catterall 75), beat Mallorca 211 all out (Wes Walker 48, Yaseen 52) by 43 runs and win the Balearic cup for the first time since 2010. Congratulations to Menorca for a fine team performance all round!
Many thanks also to Menorca skipper Simon Cotton and his team and clubhouse staff for their welcome and hospitality, as well as to Ibiza treasurer Lyn Carpenter for her support, Dave Reynolds for scoring both games and to the several Ibiza supporters who came to watch, including Barry Dolby (Barrington Sports) who sponsors Ibiza CC with vital cricket equipment every year!
Thanks go also to our other sponsors Ocean Beach Club, Plastik, Ibiza Property Shop and Dynamic Lives.
RPHood
