CLOSE ENCOUNTER AT THE WOODBRIDGE OVAL

Sporting Alfas Cricket Club Sporting Alfas Mid Week XI v Milan C.C on Fri 21 Mar 2008 at 15.00
Sporting Alfas Cricket Club Won by 11 runs

Friday, March 21st

SACC MW XI 170-6 (25 overs)
Milan CC 159-6 (25 overs)

On a blustery, overcast day requiring at least one sweater, Captain
Bellis won the toss and elected to bat first with the match reduced to
25 overs owing to the late start. An unusual first over saw 1st XI
skipper Kevin Laundon smash 16 runs before departing to a smart catch
in the gully off the final ball. The home side’s final total of 170
was built around another fine knock by 17 year old Spain all-rounder
Christian Muñoz, who amassed 66 before retiring in the 20th over, with
useful contributions from Marriner (10), Pennick (15), Perrins (26)
and Cowley (17 not out). Special mention goes to Milan’s young keeper,
Glenn Coppack, who put in an immaculate performance behind the stumps,
that included a catch and a very sharp stumping. His 13 year old
sister, Katie, who bowled three very respectable overs from the top
end and held onto a sharp catch, also had a very good day.

Between them, Howden, Packiam and Cowley accounted for Milan’s top
three to leave the score standing at 51-3 after 11 overs. Vikram, who
was dropped twice on the boundary off Marriner on his way to a rapid
77, and Cooke (27), added 90 for the fourth wicket to set up a
thrilling finish with a highly-gettable target of 30 runs off the last
24 balls. However, a frugal last few overs from Perrins (1 for 11 off
4 overs) and Pennick, who found his radar after an expensive first
eight balls that went for 23 to end with 1 for 29 off 18 balls,
steered the MW XI to their first victory of the season by the narrow
margin of 11 runs.