Last weekend Ibiza CC came across the water to play their two annual fixtures at the Woodbridge Oval. Sporting Alfas chairman Kevin Laundon reports on both days.
Sporting Alfas Cricket Club Sporting Alfas 1st X1 254 for 2 beat Ibiza C.C. 168 for 10
In spite of the bad weather forecast, the sun in fact appeared and we could play the full match. Ibiza skipper Jeremy “Silver Jez” Parmenter, appearing in his last match as club captain, won the toss and chose to field first. Alfas skipper Kevin “Rawhide” Laundon put out a very strong team in memory of Alfas cricketer John Morgan, who died tragically earlier this year, which included several cricketers who have played for Spain, and they wasted no time in showing their batting aggression.
Openers Christian “Moonie” Muñoz and Shafiq “Shavash” Ali both struck classy half centuries before retiring, only to be replaced by Kevin Laundon and Mark “Basher” Spencer, who also struck robust half centuries. Ibiza bowlers and fielders, coming from their smaller San Jose pitch, were made to work hard bowling and fielding, and did their best, but only Graeme “Gman” Cooper and “Robiño” Parmenter contributed to taking a wicket each. Alfas finished their 35 overs on 256 for 2, with 3 batsmen having retired, leaving Ibiza with a tough challenge to repeat their unprecedented Saturday win of Nov. 2011.
Sure enough, Alfas did not let up in the field and it was always going to be difficult to maintain a run rate of over 7 runs per over, in spite of determined innings from Johnno “Flash” Gordon (28), Graeme Cooper (30), Stuart “Bradford lad”Browne (22) and “Desperate” Dan Brennan (14). Wickets fell regularly thanks to tight Alfas bowling, and all Ibiza players got a chance to bat, including well known Ibiza playboy Stephen “Cocktail” Wilson, who struck a couple of boundaries in his undefeated innings at no.11!
Ibiza were finally all out for 142 in the 33rd over, losing by 114 runs to a disciplined Alfas side. All their bowlers kept up the pressure, with particular success for Christian Muñoz (3/21), Ben Fletcher (2/15), 74 year old Paul “Grandad” Taylor(2/16), and Phil “Billy” Pennick who obtained 1 wicket.
After the match, all players and supporters attended the BBQ at the clubhouse, where Kevin Laundon said a few words for John Morgan and his family, in memory of his enthusiasm for Sporting Alfas C.C. and love of entertaining others.