Ibiza’s reign as Balearic Champions came to an end in a weekend of high quality cricket in Mallorca that ended with a hint of contoversy. On Friday Ibiza won the toss and put Mallorca into bat. The home side got off to a flyer catching Ibiza cold in the field putting on 121 for the first wicket until Qamar-Sha holed out to Martin Makepeace for 69 in the 21st over. Mallorca went on to score a total of 224 for 3 in their 40 overs with 37 runs being scored from the last 3 overs.
In reply Ibiza got off to a solid start with half centuries from Adam Johnston and Bob Short and at 149 for 3 from 31 overs it was still anybody’s game. Unfortunately Ibiza’s middle order just did not perform, the last 5 wickets going for just 27 runs, Mallorca winning the match by 32 runs.
Although Ibiza were down after their loss it was still possible to win the cup and on Saturday they responded in some style after putting themselves into bat against a keen Menorca side.
Ibiza’s total of 256 runs was the highest total scored on the ground so far this year, the damage being done by the top five in a display of batting excellence. Brad van Bijlivelt top scored with a superb 88, ably assisted by Bob Short (57 not out), Adam Johnston (46) and David Climent (37). In reply Menorca got off to an assured start but never really got close to the required run rate especially as Ibiza’s Bob Short, providing the highlight of the weekend, took a hat trick (3 wickets in 3 balls) at a vital time. Even though Menorca’s Ted Williams scored a fine century (119 not out) they still needed 35 off the last 3 overs so Ibiza loaded the boundary with fielders making it very difficult for the batting side. Ibiza eventually winning by 12 runs in a superb match that enthralled the large crowd. Bob Short ended with bowling figures of 4-22 and Samy Feasey 3-39. Ibiza’s win meant that going into Sunday’s game any team could still win the tournament because if Menorca beat Mallorca, Ibiza could still win the cup with a better run rate.
There is no love lost between these teams so both captains were really up for the match. Menorca batted first putting on 199 for 9, which really put on the pressure however Mallorca, armed with a calculator not a bat, knew exactly what they had to score so did not go for the win, literally blocking every ball late in the innings, eventually finishing on 155 for 5, losing by 44 runs. All teams won one and lost one but Mallorca won the tournament on a better run rate with Ibiza runners up and a very disgruntled Menorca with the wooden spoon.
It was a controversial win however this showed the importance of the competition and the ‘win at all costs’ attitude of all the teams. Overall the weekend was a festival of superb cricket played in a highly charged and competitive atmosphere that sets up next years competition where Ibiza will play hosts and go all out to get back the trophy that they won so well in 2007. Ibiza CC Press Office
MALLORCA REPORT ON THE BALEARIC CUP
MENORCA V MALLORCA
Despite losing their match against Minorca on Sunday the homeside made sure that the Balearic Cup stayed in Mallorca. However Minorca’s ultimate reaction to the result was far from gracious. Granted, the game had degenerated into a tactical ‘Duckworth Lewis’ affair; but the fact remains that Mallorca contained the opposition to a very modest 198 for 9 from the 40 overs and in reply effectively ‘put up the shutters’; it may not have been pretty but needs must! Middle order batsman Jon Barratt was wholly responsible for holding things together and must be congratulated in keeping his cool in an unenviable situation.
Minorca won the toss; opening attack James Bodsworth and Hijazy Yaseen were suitably economical,
Minorca’s Chris Philips and skipper Andy Tysoe had posted just 22 from nine overs when a bowling change produced two expensive overs from Paul Heaton. Bodsworth appeared to be labouring under injury, but completed his eight over stint coming in off a short run. The breakthrough came when skipper Eric George held a catch off Malcolm Leggett to dismiss Tysoe for 16 with 69 scored. Philips, one away from his half century was bowled by Leggett with 84 on the board. When Leggett struck again dismissing Dan Osterbery for nought Minorca’s fortunes didn’t look so bright at 94 for 4. Saturday’s star Ted Williams was joined by son Ian, but their partnership was brief when James Avon held his nerve and the catch…Williams Jnr. caught and bowled for 12. Jon Barratt accounted for Adam Cockroft’s wicket with the score at 136, then jubilation in the Mallorca camp when Barratt claimed Ted Williams’ wicket. Minorca’s score 157 for 6. Regan Anderson made the only other valuable contribution finishing unbeaten on 38 as David Nuttall was bowled by Qamar-Shahzad without troubling the scorer and Sunil Chauhan was spectacularly run out by Andrew Clemence for 6; Barratt bowled Jeff Barker for a golden duck as the innings drew to a close. 198 for 9 was the final tally.
Barratt and Leggett shared the honours with three wickets apiece.
After tea in front of a packed terrace Mallorca’s Babar Qamar-Shahzad confidently dispatched a couple of boundaries off Ian Williams for starters, but Paul Heaton had difficulty facing left arm paceman Anderson. Ted Williams on as first change turned in an excellent performance; he had Qamar-Shahzad stumped by Tysoe for 20; then Bodsworth was out caught by Chauhan off Williams for nought with the score at 30. Bell looked in form dispatching the ball to the boundary four times before being out to a catch by Osterbery off Philips for 18. This was not a good scenario for the homeside; 63 for 4 from 15 overs. Enter Barratt at No.5; he played his part to perfection; and let’s face it this is often what cricket is about; a cerebral battle of wits. Hijazy Yaseen’s wicket was claimed by Philips for 12 as the mathematicians on the terrace continued to work out the complexities of the rules. Andrew Clemence hit a creditable 21 before opening bowler Anderson in his second stint bowled him with the board showing 145. When Eric George fell to a splendid catch by Chauhan off Anderson for nought things began to look desperate. Mallorca needed 155 to win the tournament, but couldn’t afford to lose another wicket otherwise they would have needed about 189 runs…I did say it was complex! Barratt with James Avon in tandem stood their ground and delivered the goods, maybe not in the way they would have chosen, but nevertheless the job was done. Mallorca failed by 43 runs to win the match; but the Balearic Cup was theirs. The tournament has always been fiercely contested and rent with controversy, this one ran true to form.
Ted Williams recorded excellent figures of 8-4-13-2. Chris Philips 8-3-26-3. Regan Williams 8-0-23-2.
The Minorca team’s disapproval of Mallorca’s tactics were made transparently clear when they rather ungallantly refrained from responding to the post match speeches by Mallorca’s skipper Eric George and Ibiza’s Adrian Ireland who commented that they would, in the same circumstances, have adopted a similar stratagem,. It was unfortunate that the Championship ended with such a bitter after taste. There is talk of a change to the rules for next year’s tournament which will be hosted by Ibiza.
Since I wrote my account of the game I have been in contact with Ibiza’s skipper Martin Makepeace. Despite missing the final encounter when he and the team returned to Ibiza early Sunday morning he has penned his report of the weekend; here is an interesting extract: ‘Mallorca armed with a calculator not a bat, knew exactly what they had to score so did not go for the win, literally blocking every ball late in the innings, eventually finishing on 155 for 5, losing by 44 runs. All teams won one and lost one but Mallorca won the tournament on a better run rate with Ibiza runners up and a very disgruntled Minorca with the wooden spoon.
It was a controversial win however this showed the importance of the competition and the ‘win at all costs’ attitude of all the teams. Overall the weekend was a festival of superb cricket played in a highly charged and competitive atmosphere.’ I think Martin’s final sentence says it all.
MALLORCA SKIPPER WITH THE BALEARIC CUP BARRETT BATS OUT THE INNINGS
IBIZA V MENORCA
On the second day of the Balearic Championships Ibiza batted first in their match against Minorca and posted a healthy 256 runs. Andy Johnstone hit another half century and ‘The Reverend’ Bob Short had another good knock of over fifty. South African Brad Van ByLevelt hit an impressive 86. By the time I arrived at the ground Minorca were already two wickets down; both taken by Jim Harvey. Ted Williams was on form dispatching the ball to the boundary with regularity; however when skipper Shaggy Makepeace brought on ‘The Reverend’ Bob Short from the mountain end with the score at 160 for 2 the game took an exciting turn; described by Mallorca’s Steve Bell as a stroke of genius, Short proceeded to demolish the stumps dismissing three Minorcan batsmen in quick succession; then ‘keeper Van Bylevelt’s rapid reaction resulted in a stumping and a score of 164 for 5. Williams maintained the momentum in impressive fashion finishing on an unbeaten 119 but just twelve runs short of the target from the 40 overs. This was entertainment in its highest form.
Her Majesty’s Consul Mr. Paul Abrey, an avid cricketer, dropped in to meet the three Captains and partake in a little light refreshment after the match.
At the time of writing the three teams are preparing for the celebration dinner at Restaurant Ses Forquetes in Son Caliu. Alcohol intake will be carefully monitored in the Minorca and Mallorca camps.
BOB SHORT (THE VICAR) RE-ARRANGING THE STUMPS TED WILLIAMS ON FORM
IBIZA V MALLORCA
On the first day of the 2008 Balearic Championships Ibiza skipper Martin Makepeace won the toss and surprisingly put Mallorca in to bat. Babar Qamar-Shahzad and Paul Heaton made tremendous inroads posting 52 by the eighth over. The duo continued apace; Qamar-Shahzad’s half century came up in just thirty minutes at the crease; the slightly built Pakistani demonstrated some fine shots and breaking his bat in the process; the second one didn’t fare much better! Heaton posted his fifty and retired shortly afterwards due to heat fatigue; his valuable contribution 59 in a fine first wicket stand which lasted an hour and thirty four minutes. Ibiza’s men never showed their frustration as Qamar-Shahzad continued to pepper the boundary with regularity, but his splendid innings of 69 was brought to a halt when skipper Makepeace held the breakthrough catch off Bob Short’s first over with the score at 121 from twenty two overs. Steve Bell and James Bodsworth’s progress was slow against Short and Sam Feasey; both bowlers were difficult to get away and in a carbon copy scenario Makepeace held a valuable catch off Short to dismiss Bell for 17 with 155 on the board. With 11 more added to the score Barratt also fell to a catch off Feasey for 4. Bodsworth and Hijazy Yaseen picked up the pace in a vital eight over run fest. Bodsworth hit a swift unbeaten 51 and Yaseen finished on 16 not out as the duo took the homeside’s final tally to a respectable 224 from their forty overs.
Bob Short and Sam Feasey recorded Ibiza’s best bowling figures of 7-0-28-2 and 8-0-30-1 respectively.
BABAR OF MALLORCA BATTING AGAINST IBIZA UMPIRES MIKE AND CED
Mallorca had their work cut out to contain the visitors, but were rewarded early on when left arm paceman James Bodsworth, bowling from the pavilion end, bowled David Clemente for 9 with 41 on the board in the ninth over. Adam Johnstone and Bob Short enjoyed a second wicket partnership of 75 despite being behind the run rate. Third change bowler Babar Qamar-Shahzad struck gold in his first over when Mallorca’s safe pair of hands Jon ‘Pooky’ Barratt held a catch to send Johnstone on his way for a commendable 49 from the 116 on the board. Short was soon to follow as Bodsworth took a catch off Qamar-Shahzad to send the Reverend back to the dressing room with 59 to his credit and 149 scored. Opening bowler Hijazy Yaseen returned to the fray and immediately enjoyed success as he had Sam Feasey trapped LBW for 14 then accounted for South African Brad Van der Camp’s wicket in the same over. Ibiza were now 160 for 5 from thirty two overs. George Burdon had to call for a runner when he picked up an injury; then excitement rose in the home camp as Mallorca’s number six bowler Jon Barratt hit a purple patch dismissing Ibiza’s remaining batsmen in short order bowling Cooper for 4 and Browne for 3. ‘Paris’ Hilton threw in from the boundary to hit the sticks dismissing Burdon for 8 and the final nails in Ibiza’s coffin came in the thirty eighth over when Barratt bowled Makepeace for a golden duck and had Ryan Way trapped LBW without troubling the scorers. Ibiza’s final total 193 all out.
Bodsworth returned economical figures of 8-0-27-1. Qamar-Shahzad: 5-1-23-2. Barratt: 7-0-32-4.
After the match the tournament players enjoyed two cases of the finest Batle wine courtesy of The Majorca Daily Bulletin. The match was well attended; the buzz of spectators on the terrace added to the congenial atmosphere.
