CRICKET ESPANA XI BEAT SPORTING ALFAS I BY 4 WICKETS
In the latest game at the Woodbridge Oval the Sporting Alfas first team played a Cricket Espana XI selected by the chairman Phil Beal. The game is an annual event in memory of one of the great pioneers of Spanish cricket Andrew Bond.
Alfas were the first to bat, and soon lost the services of Spencer, who got a leading front edge to give Saqar a caught and bowled chance that he eagerly accepted. With the fall of the first wicket with six runs on the board the Alfas chairman Phil Pennick came to the crease to team up with Spain’s wicket-keeper batsman Shafique Ali. The pair began to tame the bowling attack and put on a century stand before Ali was caught behind by the Madrid wicket keeper Doust for a fine 72. Howe came in next, but fell quickly to the bowling of Hersh and then the introduction of bowler Zafran produced a hat trick that left the home side stuttering at 131 for 6.
Zafran first got Pennick caught on the mid-wicket boundary with the last ball of his first over. He then got Faran stumped with his first ball of his next. The fielders all gathered around the bat as the Spanish Under 17 captain Munoz entered the frame to try and prevent an hat trick. Zafran put a great delivery into the “corridor of uncertainty” and Munoz got an edge to the ball that was then well taken by Ali at second slip.
Alfas recovered somewhat with timely scores from Wasim (26) Laudon (19 not out) and Taylor (10 not out) to post a final score of 199 for 7 off their allocated 40 overs.
In reply the Cricket Espana team quickly lost Khalid and Abbas but strong batting from opener Saqar and La Manga’s Rob Meyer put the visitors in control. Saqar finally went for 48, but with Meyer looking secure at one end, (despite the fact he was carrying a calf strain that hindered his movement) and with sensible support from Beal (30) and Safraz (37 not out) at the other end the visitors ran out comfortable winners with 4 wickets and 3 overs to spare.
SPORTING ALFAS 199 FOR 7
M Spencer ct + b Saqar 2
S Ali ct Doust bAli 72
P Pennick ct b Zafran 45
G Howe b Hhersh 2
Faran st Doust b Zafran 1
Munoz ct b Zafran 0
Wazim ct b Saqar 26
K Laundon not out 19
P Taylor not out 10
177 for 7 22 Extras Total 199 for 7
Tariq 5-1-27-0
Saqcar 8-3-35-2
Zafran 6-0-45-3
Howden 6-0-32-0
Abbas 7-0-26-0
Ali 5-0-16-1
Hersh 3-0-12-1
Cricket Espana XI
Saqar st Ali b Taylor 48
Khalid ct Ali b Faran 7
Abbas ct Ali b Wasim 3
R Meyer not out 49
Tariq ct Lupson b Taylor 12
J Hersh run out 0
P Beal bowled Munoz 30
Safraz not out 39
Total 188 for 6 Extras 12 Total 200 for 6
S. Lupson 8-1-33-0
Faran 5-1-29-1
P Taylor 8-0-39-2
Wasim 4-0-27-1
K Laudon 5-0-21-1
C Munoz 5-0-23-0
G Metcalfe 2-0-18-0
CRICKET ESPANA WON BY 4 WICKETS.