VALENCIA GREEN WIN MADRID TWENTY20 TORNEO
Three days of tremendous cricket culminated with Valencia Green outpacing the Spanish Under 19 side to win the latest Madrid Twenty20 charity torneo.
The tournament, the 4th in the Madrid Cricket Clubs history consisted of eight teams, including Tallinn from Estonia and Woodford Wells from Essex, England.
The draw took the format of two groups of four and pitted Woodford Wells,Tallinn, La Manga and Madrid against each other in one group and Valencia Green, Captial XI, the Spanish Under 19´s and Lanzarote in the other.
The first games saw Tallinn play Madrid and La Manga play Woodford Wells. La Manga, minus their junior players who were representing the Spanish Under 19 side, were no match for the Essex based outfit as the tourists ran out easy winners.
The Madrid and Tallinn game ebbed and flowed one way and then the other before Madrid eeked out a victory on the last ball of the game.
Next up. Valencia Green played a Capital XI and Lanzarote entertained the Spanish Under 19 side. The Valencia versus Capital game proved a one sided game. Green, last years leagues runners up, easily strolled past what was in effect the Madrid second team to secure their first points in the tournament.
The Lanzarote-Spanish Under 19 game was a much more interesting affair. Not least because Lanzarote had two potential Spanish Under 19 players in their ranks who were hoping to make a statement and edge closer to selection for the upcoming Under 19 international event in the Isle of Man in the summer.
One of the Lanzarote duo, Sam Gooding immediately inpressed having Jake Sundeland caught at mid off with the first ball of the Spanish Juniors innings. In his very next over Gooding accounted for the Spanish skipper Joel Brook much to the delight of the Lanzarote contigent.
Struggling, the Spanish Juniors, not for the first time relied on Christian Munoz to turn around their difficult position. This he did confidently with assistance from the La Manga trio Tom Vine, Alfie Harris and Ravi Panchal. Their daunting position soon gained a semblance of respectabilitry and the Spainsish Juniors went into the break with a par score for a Twenty20 game at La Manga.
Lanzarote did not get the kind of start they were looking for and as the game unfolded it became obvious the the innings of Munoz was the difference between the sides. So it proved as the Spanish Juniors won out comfortanble winners in the end.
The final games of day one saw a reversal of roles as Madrid lost out to La Manga and Tallinn overcame Woodford Wells. With one win each in this group after day one the tournament referee Ron Graham reached for his calculator to work out the net run rate. The Saturday games would determine the semi finalists from Group A.
Good Friday evening the teams enjoyed an excellent dinner and a raffle that raised considerable funds for Madrid Cricket Club and this years charity, the Theodore foundation. a group that provide clowns and entertainment to sick children in hospitals. http://www.theodora.org.es/
Saturday morning the Under 19s had a tough ask to beat Valencia Green. Batting first Greeen stuttered at first, then exploded mid innings, before being pegged again near the end to register a par score. The Green score would have been notably more except for a hat trick by Tom Vine with the last 3 balls of the Green innings.
In reply, the Juniors started well with Munoz and Sunderland up on the run rate. Losing wickets at crucial intervals was to be the Juniors downfall and a valiant effort by the Under 19´s ended in defeat against an excellent Valencia Green side.
On the upper pitch Lanzarote made easy work of their game against the Capital XI with Craig Trapps being particulary impressve with the ball.
The La Manga and Tallinn and Madrid and Woodford Wells games had added importance with every team having played two and won one. Victories for Wells and Tallinn ensured semi final berths with Wells topping the group courtesy of their superior net run rate.
It was left to the Under 19s to see off the Capital XI and Valencia Green to go through their group undefeated to complete the semi final line up, Sunday morning would see the Spanish Juniors take on Woodford Wells and Valencia Green entertain Tallinn for a place in the final.
Green continued their domination in the competition with a easy victory over Tallinn. The Spanish Unde 19s showed their tournament prowess by adapting better to their 10 over rain restricted match with Woodford Wells. Batting first their allocated overs yielded over 100 runs, mainly thanks to the innings of the tournament, a fantastic 68 not out off 32 balls by Spanish Junior Christian Munoz-Mills.
Wells, feeling the effects of three games in as many days after some serious socialising could not cut down the Under 19s total, and so the Juniors side advanced to the final much to the delight of the local spectators. Valencia Green would have a re-match with Spanish Under19 side from the grouo stages to determines this years winners.
Before the final the minor places were completed. The two Madrid teams played off for the minor honours. Played in the true spirit of the game the Madrid first team ran out winners. Highlights for the Capital XI were David Stirton catching out co-tournament organiser Jon Woodward for a duck, and young Hamish Price hitting a four off the bowling of Zubin Cooper.
Lanzarote easily took care of a depleted La Manga side and Woodford Wells regained their composure and equillibrium to make short work of Tallinn CC for 3rd place.
The final proved a little one sided with the experience and agressive batting of Valencia Green being way to powreful for the spirited Under 19 effort. Green came out easy winners and it was left to the teams Spanish International Faran Afzal to pick up the trophy and celebrate the victory with his team mates.
The end of another impeccably run torneo concluded with a dinner at the Si Bar .Trophies were awarded to 3rd place Wells, and the two finalists. In addition he scorers and umpires received commerorative plaques. Finally, it was left to the umpires to nominate the bowler and batsman of the torneo. Craig Trapps went home happy to the Gran Canarias after winning the bowling award for Lanzarote, whilst Christian Munoz took home the batsman of the event, averaging over 100 for his five innings.
Many thanks to the Madrid co-horts Jon Woodward and David Stirton for their behind the scenes work to make all this possible and for the tournament referee Ron Graham for ensuring a fair, yet competitive, tournament.
Finally thanks to everyone who participated, .player, official or spectator, who ensured the 4th Madrid Solidarity Torneo was as successful, if not more so, than their previous three events.
Final:
Valencia Green CC vs Selección Española Sub 19
VG won toss and batted
Azhar 18 Caught R.Panchal (bowler J.Roper)
Shahid 26 caught A.Gomez (bowler R.Panchal)
Asad 76 not out
Faran 51 Bowled T.Vine
Attiq 8 not out
Total 179 + 28 extras = 207
Bowlers:
J Sunderland 4 overs, 1 maiden, 41 runs, 0 wickets
T.Vine 4, 0, 52, 1
R.Panchal 4, 0, 27, 1
C.Muñoz 1, 0, 12, 0
J.Roper 4, 0, 30, 1
A.Gomez 2, 0, 23, 0
A.Harris 1, 0,17, 0
Sub 19 Batting
J Sunderland 24 caught wk (bowler Akmal)
C Muñoz 43 caught (bowler Asad)
J.Brook 6 caught (bowler Akmal)
R Panchal 1 Run Out
T.Vine 20 Not Out
A Harris 10 Stumped (bowler Khuaram)
H Marshall 1 Not Out
Total 108 + 14 extras = 122
Bowlers:
Farhan 3 overs, 0 maidens, 32 runs, 0 wickets
Attiq 3, 0, 19, 0
Akmal 4, 0, 18, 2
Asad 4, 0, 21, 1
Kyaz 2, 0, 12, 0
Khuram 2, 0, 7, 1
Ikram 2, 0, 9, 0
1ST VALENCIA GREEN
2CD SPANISH UNDER 19
3RD WOODHEAD WELLS
4TH TALLINN
5TH LANZAROTE
6TH LA MANGA
7TH MADRID I
8TH CAPITAL XI
BEST BATSMEN CHRISTIAN MUNOZ SPANISH UNDER 19´S
BEST BOWLER CRAIG TRAPPS LANZAROTE
