IBIZA
SEPTEMBER 2008 – Ibiza Cricket Week
Ibiza is proving to be a very desirable destination for cricket teams as Ibiza CC hosted 3 touring teams in one week playing 6 games in 9 days. First up was a 35 over game against Old Leagonians CC from Epsom, Surrey who brought lots of spirit but precious little cricket to the ground. A strong Ibiza team soundly won both matches bowling out OLCC for just 71, Peter Golding top scored with 37 but had no back up with no fewer than 7 of his team mates ending up with ducks! Andy Lawrence on debut was the pick of Ibiza’s fine bowling attack returning figures of 3 for 11 from his 4 overs. Adam Johnston and Brad van Bylefeld knocked off the runs in less than 8 overs for an Ibiza win by 10 wickets. In the second match, this time over 20 overs, Ibiza batted first setting an imposing 227 with half centuries from Bob Short and Martin Cooper with George Burdon pitching in with a quick fire 30 from a dozen balls. OLCC’s reply was a creditable 105 all out with Dan England hitting a dogged 29 before being bowled by Bob Short’s wrong ‘un. It seemed that Old Leagonians had saved their best performance for Sgt Peppers 2!
Next up was Potterne CC from Devizes, Wiltshire who brought over a strong, young team with a point to prove. Two close 35 over contests saw Ibiza eventually running out winners in both but it could have been very different. On the first day Potterne won the toss and elected to bat posting 182 from their allotted overs, Potts top-scoring with 48 and Mellon getting a fine 40. Jim Harvey bowled his usual line and length and returned impressive figures of 3 for 18 from 7 overs. Ibiza stuttered in their reply, the top 4 firing blanks, until Jim Harvey, proving he is a genuine all rounder, scored his maiden half century with a superb 59 including 3 huge sixes. Ibiza nearly threw it away at the death as wickets tumbled but Ryan Way and Martin Makepeace bought the side home with 6 balls and 2 wickets to spare. The return match was an explosive affair with the captains involved in heated exchanges throughout a high scoring game. Ibiza batted first with a very strong team and posted a formidable 276 for 2, Sam Feasey scoring a superb 132 not out (and still refusing to buy a round of drinks after the match), Adam Johnston pitching in with a brutal 55 and the classy South African Brad van Bylefeld wowing the stands with an elegant 73. Potterne’s response was to fight fire with fire as 17 year old opener Neil Clarke scored a beautiful 104 threatening Ibiza’s total but when he was dismissed by a disguised slow ball from Feasey the home side breathed a little easier eventually bowling out the opposition for 214 to win by 62 runs. Sam Feasey was man of the match after his century and bowling figures of 4 for 16 from 7 overs.
The final touring team of the week was Follies Farm Old Spots CC from the Sussex/Surrey area who bought a lot of charm and grace to the San Jose Oval. After 4 hard games and a few injuries Ibiza put out an under strength side and were found wanting against a highly organized outfit who quickly adapted to the conditions. Ibiza’s Captain Martin ‘Shaggy’ Makepeace electing to field in the first 35 over game proved a wise decision as FFOSCC scored only 205 all out, Lumley (51) and Broke-Smith (44) doing the damage for the visitors and Ryan Way (4 for 26) bowling well for Ibiza. In reply, Ibiza’s Adam Johnston was dismissed early by a shooter that kept low and after that the home side never really looked at the races until Paul Smith scored an entertaining 62 for his maiden half century ably assisted by Andy Nokes (23 not out) but even that couldn’t stop Ibiza’s first defeat in 7 matches, losing by 55 runs, Old Spots’ bowling was just too tight with Rollings, Leng and Hicks taking 3 wickets apiece. The final game of the week was a 20 over contest with FFOSCC electing to bat first and scoring 175 with Neil Stephenson’s fine 84 and a brutal 47 not out by David Leng that proved to be the difference at stumps. Jim Harvey and Ryan Way both bowled well for Ibiza but unfortunately they had little back up with Ibiza leaking more than 50 runs in the last 4 overs. Ibiza’s reply was solid however they always had difficulty getting close to the required run rate of 8.75 per over due to another fine example of tight bowling and even though they only lost 3 wickets during their innings it wasn’t enough. Adam Johnston’s batted well for his 63 not out and Mark ‘Gilly’ Gillett’s 35 came after his long awaited return to the fold, Ibiza finally losing the game by 24 runs.
Special thanks to Lyn Carpenter for her drinks (and biscuits), Mike Lynch for his precise scoring, San Jose Council for the new clubhouse and all the players from all four sides who contributed to a great week that saw lots of entertaining cricket and was enjoyed by all .