BARCELONA CRUSH SPORTING ALFAS II

BARCELONA AT THE WOODBRIDGE OVAL

SACC 2´s strong start to the Spanish League Northern Division came to a shuddering halt at the hands of Barcelona CC who in turn notched their first win of the campaign.

Having won the toss for the third straight match, the home skipper´s luck ran out when he chose to field first. Barcelona, recent winners of a national 20/20 Championship at La Manga, started in stand and deliver mode and never looked back. All of the top four batsmen (Khalid, Saqar, Armagan and Aamir) passed fifty at better than a run a ball, setting a platform for the middle and lower order to play an equally swashbuckling game that left the home bowlers on their knees. When the innings finally closed at 395 for 7, SACC 2´s only consolation was the visitors had not managed to overhaul the longstanding record of 406 runs in 40 overs. Brad Seekings 2 for 40 in 4 overs and Mudassar Yousaf´s 2 for 74 from 8 were the standout bowling figures, but in truth too many catches were spilt against one of the League´s most talented lineups.

In reply, SACC 2 were soon in bother as Tanveer (1 for 24 from 5 overs) and Zaka (2 for 36 from 5) removed both openers. A sublime counterattacking 107 from S.Ur-Rehman, his second League century of the season, helped the hosts restore some pride and pick up some useful batting points that may yet prove crucial in the final analysis, but in truth Barcelona´s mammoth total was never under threat. Apart from useful contributions from Muñoz (22) and Fletcher (20), Barcelona were able to comfortably close out a crushing 195 run win, with Khalid (1 for 29 from 8 overs) just about the pick of the bowlers.