LEVANTE I V PINATAR I – LEAGUE

Levante and Pinatar entertained the watching crowd with another run feast at the VCG, that included a tremendous 190 for Pinatar batsman, and former Spanish international Munib Ranjah.

Several of the Pinatar players were at Valencia for the first time and they arrived with a strong squad that included the Almeria based quartet Sajid Ali, Farhat Mahmood, Munib Ranjah and Talat Ali.

Pinatar’s skipper, the evergreen George Wambeek won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat on another scorching day in the centre of the Spanish city.

Openers Sajid Ali and Akash Panchal started well scoring quickly passing 50 before the end of the sixth over but then both fell in relatively quick succession. At that point Munib Ranjah and Farhat Mahmood entered the arena. Both took advantage of the relatively small boundaries and scored runs at ease as the Levante players toiled gamefully in the hot sun. Both remained at the crease for the majority of the Pinatar innings and ended with scores of 190 and 62 respectively.

Levante were rewarded for their non stop efforts with several wickets towards the end of the Pinatar innings and at the interval a score of 352 for 8 had been posted on the board.

After lunch Levante made the worst possibly start when Fazal was out for a golden duck, being snapped up by a fine catch in the slips by Farhat Mahmood off the bowling of newcomer, Paul Hennessey. Skipper Rhys Morgan and Rob Pickford offered hope for the home team but a fine reflex catch by Ranjah sent Pickford packing for a fine 45.

Morgan continued to show the form that had put him on the Spanish National teams radar and the Welshman completed a fine half century before being run out going for a second run on the dangerous arm of Talat Ali.

The hosts were finally all out for a creditable 230, falling 122 runs shy of the required target. Sajid Ali bowled a tidy spell in the middle of the innings to end with 2-25. It was left to George Wambeek to have the final say. His first ball of the day, a full toss, sailed into the hands of Talat Ali in the deep to give the visitors maximum points. Levante took 8 points from the contest.

The next game at the VCG is on Sunday 10th, when Levante take on Alcorcon in another league fixture. 11 am start, free entrance, all welcome.