CRICKET ESPANA ACADEMY V TOM MAYNARD TRUST – MATCH ONE

The Cricket Espana Academy opened their 2015 campaign with two difficult T-Twenty fixtures against the Tom Maynard Trust XI.

The CE Academy side comprised of players from clubs from the local ECCL League, whilst the Tom Maynard Trust fielded young professionals from county sides in the UK . 

The trust was set up in Tom’s name and for the last two years they have had an annual trip to Spain, firstly to work with emerging players for several days at the Desert Springs complex in Almeria on specialist technical and conditioning work , and then heading East to La Manga for end of tour matches with Spanish representative teams.

With Tom’s father Matt, and former internationals Ian Harvey and Paul Nixon as part of their coaching staff this year it was also going to be an uphill task for the Spanish youngsters.

In the first of two games, the Tom Maynard XI batted first, and immediately showed their intent by racing to 100 without loss by the 11th over.

Both openers, Andy Umeed (Warwickshire) and Bradley Erasmus (Surrey) scored at an equal pace but it was Eramus who got his 50 first, off just 32 balls. Umeed completed his half century in 34 balls and then CE finaly got their first wicket when Erasmus holed out in the deep to a fine catch from Khakkad, off the bowling of Roper, with the score on 143.

The Academy did not get their second wicket until the very last ball of the innings, when the other opener Umeed was out for a fantastic 80.

The mainline bowlers for Spain, Ravi Panchal and Jamie Roper had the best figures for the Spanish youngsters, returning figures of 0-28, and 1-27 respectively.

In reply, the home sides batsmen struggled against the pace and accuracy of their opponents bowling attack and lost their first wicket without a run on the board when Pennick (Sporting Alfas) was bowled fourth ball by Liam Norwell (Gloucestershire).

Rhys Morgan (Levante) and Munib Ranjah (La Manga) put on 54 for the second wicket playing contrasting roles. Munib played aggressively for 42, whilst Morgan concentrated on occupying the crease for his well grafted 10 runs.

Both fell in quick succession, by which time victory was out of reach. The remaining batsmen concentrated on preserving their wickets and the CE Academy finally ended their innings on 91 for 5, exactly half of the totalled scored by the Tom Maynard Trust in the same amount of overs.

All eight bowlers used by the Trust had economical figures, with Jamie Porter (Essex) finishing with the most impressive figures, bagging 2-21 from his four overs.