LEVANTE V MADRID UNITED (ECCL LEAGUE I)

Madrid United had an early start from the capital to Valencia last Saturday for their 1pm match-up with Levante and they were rewarded for their efforts with a comfortable seven wicket victory over the home side.

The visitors won the toss and elected to field, a decision that was to pay dividends quickly, as the hosts lost Little, Eaton, Hunt and Burchell before the first drinks interval.

Orville Sennhouse and Rhys Morgan got Levante back into the game as both hit fine half centuries but United kept getting wickets at timely intervals after the pairs departure and finally bowled the home team out for 211, a total that looked 20 or 30 runs short of par. Rizwan was the pick of the bowlers taking three wickets for just 30 runs.

United opened with their skipper Ittifaq Ahmed and Humayoun. Last year the latter had scored 147 against Levante and it was obvious the hosts saw him as the dangerman.

Playing with his usual aggressive style he was quickly outscoring his opening partner who was playing in a more reserved way. The two complemented each other well and they had soon created a century partnership in less than half the overs available.

When Ittifaq was finally out Jimmy Ashraf entered at three and he also played a secondary role to Hunayoun who continued to score runs at will. The opener fell on 137 and received a standing ovation from all parts of the ground. When Rizwan followed the very next ball Levante’s hopes were buoyed a little but Waheed put pay to any miracle turn-around with a swashbuckling 38 not out.

United ended the game in style with Waheed hitting a six as his side recorded a seven wicket victory and maximum points to take back to the capital. 

September 5th 2015 

Madrid United (20 points) beat Levante (4 points) by 7 wickets 

Levante 211 all out (O Sennhouse 56, R Morgan 51, Rizwan 3-30) Madrid United 217 for 3 (Humayoun 137, Waheed 38 not out)